The National Assembly, through the House of Representatives, has mandated an investigation into telecom service providers over the unauthorized linking of National Identification Numbers (NIN) to SIM cards.
The Joint Committee on Communications and Interior has been tasked with probing the matter following a motion co-sponsored by lawmakers Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom) and Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo).
Lawmakers have called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to launch its own probe and take decisive action against any provider found violating regulations.
Additionally, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has been requested to verify whether these NIN-SIM linkages were carried out with proper authorization and in compliance with relevant laws.
Expressing deep concern, Umoh noted that recent reports indicate telecom companies have been linking subscribers’ NINs without consent, thereby exposing individuals to potential criminal activities and compromising personal data security.
“This is a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019,” he stated.
The House remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians’ privacy rights are upheld and that stringent measures are enforced to protect personal data.
