Nigeria: Minister Bosun Tijani Assures Investigation into ₦100 Data Breach Allegations

Following recent allegations reported by Techpoint on June 21, 2024, regarding the sale of sensitive personal and financial data of Nigerians for as little as ₦100, Minister Bosun Tijani has assured the public that the matter is under investigation.

Although formerly under Tijani’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was transferred to the Ministry of Interior in September 2023.

According to the minister, the one-year-old NIMC has implemented robust data compliance mechanisms across all government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in recent months to prevent any potential breaches.

Additionally, Tijani emphasized the critical role of a streamlined Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance technology applications within the government. He highlighted the importance of data exchange among MDAs as a key strategy to bolster cybersecurity oversight in the country.

“In October 2023, shortly after my appointment, I published a whitepaper detailing our approach to leveraging existing technology investments to accelerate economic growth through improved government processes,” the minister explained. (Link to the whitepaper: NigeriaDPI)

Encouraging engagement from Civil Society Organizations and the public, Tijani urged stakeholders to review the whitepaper to contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s DPI.

Concluding his statement, Dr. Tijani disclosed that he had requested a Presidential declaration to empower his team to align all government MDAs behind the ministry’s goal of implementing a nationwide data exchange system.

“We expect the initial pilot of the system to be operational and cover at least 5 MDAs by the end of the year, focusing on supporting Nigerians through critical life events,” he added.

In response to the allegations, the NIMC, in a press statement released on June 22, 2024, refuted claims of data compromise, particularly targeting websites like AnyVerify.com as unauthorized data harvesters. The commission advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid sharing sensitive data with unauthorized platforms.