President Bola Tinubu has directed an inter-ministerial committee to investigate allegations that telecom providers are linking National Identification Numbers (NIN) to subscribers’ SIM cards without their consent.
Sources within the Presidency disclosed that Tinubu issued the directive on Tuesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja.
The committee includes National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Tinubu, after receiving a briefing from the Minister of Interior, instructed the committee to investigate the issue and provide accurate data to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for effective implementation of its mandate.
A source familiar with the discussions at the FEC meeting revealed, “The President directed the Ministers of Interior, Budget and Economic Planning, Communications and Digital Economy, Humanitarian Affairs, and even Education to examine the situation and address it urgently.”
Another source confirmed, “The President wants this issue resolved as soon as possible. He has set up a team to address the challenges associated with the NIN-SIM linkage by telecom providers.” However, the timeline for the committee’s report remains unclear.
Recent reports indicate that some telecom providers linked customers’ NINs to SIM cards without their knowledge, leading to cases where subscribers discovered their NINs had been attached to unfamiliar numbers or multiple lines without authorization.
Consumer rights groups and affected individuals have called for transparency and stricter data protection measures to prevent further breaches.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has also launched an investigation into the matter.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, a motion sponsored by Rep. Patrick Umoh and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere raised concerns about the security risks associated with unauthorized NIN-SIM linkages.
Umoh warned that the practice violates the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (2019), which safeguard the privacy and personal data of Nigerians.
“This action is a clear violation of data protection laws and exposes citizens to identity theft, financial fraud, and cybercrime,” he stated.
He further highlighted cases where innocent individuals were wrongly implicated in criminal activities due to unauthorized data linkages, leading to reputational damage and legal troubles.
As a result, the House directed its Committees on Communications and Interior to investigate the issue and submit a report within four weeks.
Additionally, lawmakers urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to probe telecom providers involved in the unauthorized linkages and take necessary regulatory actions.
Tuesday’s FEC meeting was the second held in two days, with council members considering a total of 101 memos across both sessions.
(Prompt news)