By Milcah Tanimu

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) are initiating an investigation into reports of unauthorized access to the data of registered Nigerians. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, disclosed this via his official channels following allegations that a private website had obtained unrestricted access to the National Identification Numbers (NINs) and personal information of Nigerian citizens.

The website in question, XpressVerify.com, allegedly gained access to NINs and personal details of registered Nigerians and subsequently monetized the retrieval of this information. According to reports, individuals could obtain various personal details, including phone numbers, full names, addresses, and photographs from the National Identity Database for as little as N200, without any clear restrictions on the type of information accessible.

Tijani clarified that although the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is no longer under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, both institutions will collaborate closely to investigate the matter. The NDPC, responsible for data protection, will coordinate efforts with NIMC to address the issue promptly.

Following public outcry, Namecheap Incorporated, the domain registrar for the website in question, has suspended its domain, as reported by The Nation. This development underscores the seriousness with which the issue of data privacy and security is being treated.