Data Protection Initiative Seeks Review of NIMC Storage System

Data Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI) has called for the review of the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) data storage system.

The Chief Executive Officer of DKIPPI, Mr Tokunbo Smith, revealed this during an with interview with newsmen in Lagos.

Smith, also a Data  Protection Controller, spoke against the backdrop of the NIMC’s statement that five websites are allegedly harvesting Nigerians’ data fraudulently.

The statement was against the backdrop of the recent alarm raised by the Paradigm Initiative that some websites are selling Nigerians’ National Identification Number, Bank Verification Number, and International Passport, among others.

The NIMC in a statement issued by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Kayode Adegoke, said the websites engaging in the illegal harvest of data without its authority include idfinder.com.ng and Verify.Ng/sign in.

Others, according to him, are championtech.com.ng, trustyonline.com, and anyverify.com.

The commission, however, noted that Nigerians’ sensitive data have not been compromised as claimed by Paradigm Initiative.

Smith said that the challenge of data harvesting experienced by NIMC could be averted if the data storage is domiciled in Nigeria.

“It is time for Nigeria to look inward and encourage local content to avert challenges of data harvesting.

“An issue of such weakness experienced sometime in2022 and having such again is unhealthy for a national critical infrastructure,” he said.

He said the NIMC storage infrastructure should be domiciled in Nigeria and handled by qualified and experienced human resources, robust infrastructure and secured platforms.

‘’We have such issues when the right steps are not taken before awarding of the contract.

‘’At this point, there is little or nothing that the  Data Protection Commission can do.

‘’And that is why I have always emphasised the need for NDPC to be independent of any ministry or minister but to report directly to the minister,’’ he said.

He added that NIMC employees should be trained and disciplined for non-compliance with policies.

Mr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria, said that an investigation has commenced into the alleged breach of data of Nigerians domiciled at the NIMC.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Tijani said the NIMC and National Data Protection Commission have commenced a probe into the matter.