After the unauthorized NIN verification incident involving expressverify.com, investigations indicate that a third-party, initially authorized to conduct verification for citizens and legitimate businesses, may have granted expressverify.com access to its NIN verification credentials. The circumstances of this permission are still under investigation.
In response, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has implemented stricter measures, temporarily restricting access to its database. While this action was necessary, it impacted genuine verification requests. However, limited access has been granted to select establishments offering essential public services like education and security after thorough review.
Ongoing investigations aim to uncover how expressverify.com acquired credentials from legitimate third parties and determine the culpability of involved individuals within the bounds of existing laws. Moving forward, NIN verification by licensees will undergo rigorous scrutiny, with only those meeting regulatory compliance standards allowed to proceed.
Additionally, comprehensive training sessions will be conducted to ensure personnel and licensees understand their responsibilities under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, NIMC’s Privacy Policy, and other relevant regulations.
The public is urged to recognize the importance of NIN for sustainable development. While measures are being strengthened to safeguard this data, citizens should remain vigilant when sharing personal information online to prevent identity theft or misuse.