Reps condemn indiscriminate NIN-SIM linking, order probe

The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the National Communications Commission (NCC) to immediately conduct an investigation into the unsolicited linking of the National Identity Number of individuals to phone lines by telecom operators in the country.

The House also directs it’s Committee on Communication and Interior to investigate the reports and take immediate actions against any telecom service provider found to be culpable in this practice.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom) and Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo).

The House asked the National Identity Management Commission to confirm whether the linking of NIN numbers by telecom service providers was authorised and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

It also mandates the House Committees on Communications and Interior to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and report back to the House.

Leading the debate on the motion on behalf of the sponsors, Umoh expressed concern about recent reports of telecom service providers in the country linking National Identification Numbers (NIN) to subscribers’ lines without their consent.

He said the action of the telecom operators is exposing Nigerians to criminal activities and subjecting legitimate NIN holders to grave risk.

According to him, the action of the telecom operators is a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), 2019, which guarantee the right to privacy and protection of personal data of every Nigerian.

He said further that the National Identification Number (NIN) was established to streamline the verification and identification of persons and enhance security in Nigeria.

He said the potential risks and consequences of this unauthorised data linking include identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime that have become rife in Nigeria lately.

He said innocent citizens have been wrongly implicated in crimes, suffer reputational damage, harassment, and legal challenges for crimes they know nothing about.

Contributing to the motion, Isiaka Ibrahim Ayokunle (APC, Ogun) said the social media has been awashed with the information of telecom operators indiscriminately linking phone lines of subscribers to their NIN.

He disclosed that a close check by him using *996# revealed that there were four unknown numbers linked to his Airtel line with his permission while asking the House to take immediate action to address the issue.