The Traffic

Exclusive!
Data Breach Alert: Nigerians' Personal Data Sold Online for N100
By Yakubu Haruna

A shocking discovery by Paradigm Initiative, a Pan-African social enterprise, has revealed that sensitive personal data of Nigerians, including National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), and other sensitive information, are being sold online for as low as N100.

The data, which includes International Passport, Driving License, and Voter's Card information, is being commercialized on a website, (link unavailable), without authorization. This raises serious concerns about data privacy and security in Nigeria.

Paradigm Initiative (source) has sounded the alarm, stating that this breach poses significant risks to individuals and the national economy. The organization has served a pre-action notice to relevant government agencies, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), among others.

The unauthorized access to personal data is a blatant infringement on the privacy of Nigerian citizens, and could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities. The availability of sensitive financial data online could also undermine the stability of Nigeria's banking system.

This incident highlights significant gaps in data protection and cybersecurity measures in Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for robust data protection laws and stringent enforcement mechanisms to safeguard citizens' data.

In a related incident earlier in March, another website, (link unavailable), was found to have unrestricted access to the NIN database and personal details of every registered Nigerian. The website was taken down, and the NIMC restricted third-party access to its database, but the latest discovery indicates that unauthorized third parties still have access to Nigerians' databases.

This alarming development has sparked calls for urgent action to protect the personal data of Nigerian citizens and prevent further breaches.