A group known as Paradigm Initiative has raised alarm over the sale of National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN) and other data of Nigerians on a website for as little as N100. The group claimed that the website anyverify.com.ng was involved in the commercial sale of the private data of Nigerians. A visit to the website by vigil360 indicates that the site deals with the different data of Nigerians and also claims to aid people to verify data.
The site claims, “We provide millions of our users reliable and quickest services to verify people’s identity using their NIN, BVN, International Passport, Driving Licence, Voter’s Card and do much more.”
According to a statement from Paradigm Initiative, “This alarming development presents a major breach of the fundamental rights to privacy, a breach of data privacy rights, and poses significant risks to individuals and the national economy,” the organization said in a statement.
“Due to the severe implication for millions of Nigerians, we have through our legal partners, Vindich Legal, served a pre-action notice to the following Government Agencies: National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF),”
The group said this form of data breach can lead to identity, financial fraud, amongst other issues.
Paradigm Initiative said, “Fraudulent transactions and identity theft can erode public trust in financial institutions, potentially leading to a financial crisis. This is exacerbated by recent findings of huge losses suffered by financial institutions in Nigeria due to digital manipulation.
“The breach of driver’s licence information and other personal data can compromise national security. Such information can be exploited by criminal elements for unlawful activities, posing a threat to the safety and security of the nation,”
