President Bola Tinubu has set up an inter-ministerial committee to investigate allegations of telecom providers linking National Identification Numbers to subscribers’ lines without their consent.
Impeccable sources in the Presidency told our correspondent that Tinubu gave the directive on Tuesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
The committee has the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani and the Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda.
Tinubu, who listened to a briefing by the Minister of Interior, directed that the committee consider the matter and provide the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction with accurate data to carry out its mandate.
One source privy to the deliberations at Tuesday’s FEC meeting revealed, “It is an inter-ministerial committee; the President asked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Minister of [Communications, Innovation and] Digital Economy and that of Education, too, to figure out what is going on and deal with the issue.
“The National Security Adviser is also on that committee. The interior minister is there because, you know, NIMC is under the interior.”
Another source, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “It is true; the President set up a small committee to take care of the challenge of the NIN-SIM linkage. The one involving Telcos. He wants that issue resolved as soon as possible.”
However, it was not clear what timeline the President gave to the committee to investigate the matter and revert to him.
Reports reveal that some telecommunications providers linked customers’ National Identification Numbers to their mobile SIM cards without obtaining consent.
Subscribers discovered that their lines had been linked to unfamiliar NIN records or had their own NIN associated with multiple lines without explicit authorisation.
Consumer advocacy groups and affected individuals have called for investigations into how such linking occurred, emphasising the need for improved transparency and stronger data protection measures.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives initiated an investigation into the matter.
This followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Patrick Umoh and Professor Julius Ihonvbere during Wednesday’s plenary.
Umoh, who moved the motion, expressed concerns about the risks posed by this unauthorised linkage, particularly the exposure of subscribers to criminal activities and the potential harm to legitimate NIN holders.
He argued that this practice violates the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, 2019, which protects the privacy and personal data of all Nigerians.
“This action is a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the NDPR, which guarantee the right to privacy and data protection for every Nigerian,” Umoh argued, adding that “The linking of NIN to SIM cards without consent exposes citizens to serious risks, including identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime.”
The lawmaker also highlighted how innocent citizens have been wrongfully implicated in crimes, facing reputational damage, harassment, and legal challenges due to unauthorised data linking.
Therefore, the House tasked its Committees on Communications and Interior with investigating the matter and submitting a report in four weeks.
It also urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to investigate telecom providers involved and take immediate action against those found wanting.
Tuesday’s FEC meeting was the second in the two days, as council members considered 101 memos in both sittings.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
