President Bola Tinubu has set up an inter-ministerial committee to investigate allegations that telecommunications companies have linked subscribers’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) to their SIM cards without their consent. This decision came after concerns were raised about potential data breaches and privacy violations affecting mobile phone users across Nigeria.
Reliable sources within the Presidency revealed to PUNCH that Tinubu gave the directive on Tuesday during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja.
The committee includes key government officials such as National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda.
One source familiar with the discussions at the FEC meeting stated, “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 chose to remain anonymous, confirmed, “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, there was no clear timeline given for the committee to complete its investigation and report back to the President.
The issue came to light after reports emerged that some telecom providers had linked customers’ NINs to multiple SIM cards without their knowledge. Some subscribers even discovered that their NINs were associated with unfamiliar phone numbers, raising concerns about security risks and potential misuse of personal data.
Many affected individuals, along with consumer rights groups, have demanded a thorough investigation, calling for better transparency and stronger data protection measures. The unauthorized linkage of NIN to SIM cards has raised fears of identity theft, financial fraud, and other cybercrimes.
