*Nigeria鈥檚 National Identity Management Commission declares its file servers are intact, and the agency has a robust, credible system to ensure the country鈥檚 database is adequately secured and protected in regard to the rising spate of cyberattacks on networks across the world

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

Contrary to the recent rumour mill in the Nigerian public space, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has clarified that its file servers were not breached, but are fully optimised at the highest international security levels.

Some reports, especially on the social media platforms have suggested a possible hack of the regulatory Commission’s national identity database, and subsequent compromise聽of about three million consumers’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) in the process.

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However, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, Director-General of NIMC, in a statement Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications of the Commission, issued Monday, January 10, 2022, in Abuja, FCT, and made available to 绿帽献妻, said as the custodian of the foundational identity database for Africa鈥檚 most populous country, 鈥淣IMC has gone to great lengths to ensure the nation鈥檚 database is adequately secured and protected especially given the spate of cyberattacks on networks across the world.鈥�

This publication had reported that NIMC, as the custodian of the most important national database for the West African country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and other key stakeholders in the national identity administration, including the telecommunications (Telcos) operators, have restated, at several fora, the ultimate significance of consumers鈥� integrating their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards in the country.

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Mr. Efosa Idehen, Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) at NCC, at the Commission鈥檚 Telecoms Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR), aired on Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM (Brekete Family) organised by both NCC and NIMC in 2021, in Abuja, FCT, said the forum was to enlighten the telecoms subscribers on how adoption of the modern digital technologies could significantly enhance national security, improve service delivery, and enhance citizens鈥� access to government services.

Idehen also explained that basically issues NINs to Nigerians whereas the NCC oversees the issuance of SIM cards to telecoms subscribers.

The NIMC Director-General in the statement Monday also stated through painstaking efforts over the years, the Commission has built a robust and credible system for Nigeria鈥檚 identity database.

鈥淭he Commission and its infrastructure are certified to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard which are revalidated annually.

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鈥淣IMC has ensured maximum security of its systems and database because of the critical nature of the identity data which the Commission collects, manages and maintains as critical assets for the country,鈥� said Engr. Aziz.

The Commission, therefore, assures the public that it will continue to uphold the highest ethical standards in data security on behalf of the Federal Government while ensuring compliance with data protection聽 and privacy regulations.

Commission stores no information on AWS cloud platform

Engr. Aziz further explained the national identity management regulator 鈥渄oes not use nor store information on the AWS cloud platform or any public cloud, despite the usefulness of the NIMC Mobile App available to the public for accessing their NIN on the go.

According to the Director-General of the Commission, the NIMC MobileID application has no database within the app, nor does it store information in flat files.

Photo collage of NIN enrollment centres in Nigeria

He also stated: 鈥淭he Commission has made this app available to the public to reduce and eliminate any delay or challenge(s) in accessing one鈥檚 NIN.

The public should be aware that the possession of a NIN slip does not amount to access to the National Identity Database, but that the NIN slip is just a physical assertion of a person’s identity.

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鈥淯nder the data protection regulations, no licensed partner/vendor is authorised to scan and store copies of individuals NIN slips but rather authenticate the NIN using the approved and authorised verification platforms/channels provided.鈥�

Aziz noted as part of NIMC鈥檚 policies to protect personally identifiable information stored in the National Identity Database, the public may recall that the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy through NIMC launched the Tokenisation features of the NIN verification service.

鈥淭his solution is to safeguard the personal data of individuals and ensure continuous user rights and privacy,鈥� said he.

NIMC commends stakeholders on national identity聽administration

The statement as well disclosed in compliance with the mandatory use of NIN for government services, the Commission commended the concerted efforts of several Federal Government agencies that have streamlined their services in line with the use of National Identification Number (NIN) as the valid means of identification in the country.

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NIMC applauded such government agencies as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Service, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Customs Service, and a host of others.

While wishing all Nigerians and legal residents a happy and prosperous New Year 2022, the Director-General appealed to all stakeholders to embrace the identity, enrol and receive their NINs.

鈥淓ngr. Aziz opined that the Federal Government鈥檚 efforts at providing security and economic solace for all Nigerians will be enhanced when the entire population is enrolled into the national identity database,鈥� the statement added.

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