Nigerians’ Personal Data Exploited by XpressVerify, Prompting Investigation.
In a concerning revelation, XpressVerify.com, a private website, has been accused of having unrestricted access to the National Identification Numbers (NINs) and personal details of every registered Nigerian, with allegations of monetizing the retrieval of this information.
Investigations by FIJ (Foundation for Investigative Journalism) have unveiled that XpressVerify is allegedly profiting from accessing data stored in the Nigerian identification database. Despite this discovery, neither the website nor the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has clarified their relationship, leaving questions lingering about the legality of the operation.
NIMC Breaks Silence on Alleged Data Harvesting by XpressVerify via NIN
The NIMC, established under Section 14 of the NIMC Act 2007, is mandated to create, manage, maintain, and operate the National Identity Database. However, XpressVerify, operating as a standalone entity, has reportedly been tapping into this database to retrieve and utilize individuals’ personal information.
Shockingly, for a fee as low as N200, anyone can access a wealth of personal data including phone numbers, full names, NINs, addresses, and even photographs of individuals registered in the National Identity Database. This unrestricted access raises serious concerns about data privacy and security in Nigeria.
XpressVerify.com Website Shut Down After Selling Nigerians’ NIN Data by Namecheap
Reports suggest that vendors across various Nigerian cities have been utilizing XpressVerify to address NIN-related issues for citizens, further indicating the widespread availability and use of the allegedly compromised data.
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Despite these revelations, NIMC has not responded to inquiries regarding potential third-party access to the National Identity Database. Meanwhile, XpressVerify, which operates with minimal online presence, has not disclosed any affiliation with NIMC or any official authorization to manage national identity data.
In response to FIJ’s investigative report, Namecheap, the domain registrar of XpressVerify.com, has suspended the website. However, the effectiveness of this suspension remains uncertain as it may take time for internet service providers to update their caches, potentially allowing continued access to the site.
Following these developments, Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Information and Digital Economy, has announced plans for the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to collaborate with NIMC in investigating the situation, underscoring the gravity of the allegations and the urgent need to safeguard citizens’ personal data.
As the investigation unfolds, Nigerians remain apprehensive about the security of their personal information and await decisive action to address the vulnerabilities exposed by the XpressVerify controversy.
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