NIMC Enhances Security Measures for National ID Management

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that it will now require its licensed Front End Partners (FEPs) and verification agents nationwide to undergo mandatory security vetting. This initiative, as stated by the NIMC’s Director of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, aims to enhance the security of the National Identification Number (NIN) database amid concerns over data security and recent allegations of a data breach.
The NIMC, underlining its commitment to secure identity services and the protection of Nigerian citizens’ data, has introduced further measures to protect the information within its National Identity Database. These steps follow the security and compliance focus reinforced by the NIMC’s Director-General/CEO, Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, who took office in August 2023.
As part of the new security protocols, all Licensed Verification Agents, Front End Partners, and Diaspora FEPs are subject to rigorous security vetting. This is to ensure compliance with the highest standards of identity management practices globally, with penalties awaiting any violators.
Additionally, to combat misuse, the NIMC has temporarily halted the bypass enrollment process. The commission is also collaborating with law enforcement to tackle online phishing schemes that target citizens’ data. It warns against fraudulent platforms offering NIN modification or enrollment services, promising strict legal actions against the offenders.
These security enhancements come in the wake of allegations of a data breach on the NIMC platform, prompting both internal and external investigations by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). The NDPC has vowed to thoroughly investigate and hold accountable any parties found responsible for compromising personal data, reflecting the heightened efforts to ensure data security and integrity within Nigeria’s national identity management framework.