The Nigerian House of Rep­resentatives has called on the Nigerian Com­munications Commission (NCC) to investigate the unlawful and unsolicited linking of National Identi­fication Numbers (NIN) by telecommunication service providers in the country.

This directive came after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, co-sponsored by House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonv­bere, and Akwa Ibom law­maker, Mr. Patrick Umoh. The motion raised concerns over the potential security and privacy implications of the unauthorized linking of NINs, urging the NCC to take immediate action to address the matter.

In rallying support for the motion, Umoh raised alarm over recent reports indicat­ing that telecom service pro­viders in Nigeria have been linking National Identifica­tion Numbers (NINs) to sub­scribers’ lines without their consent. He warned that this practice exposes individuals to potential criminal activi­ties and puts legitimate NIN holders at significant risk.

He emphasized, “This action is a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Pro­tection Act, 2023, and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, 2019, both of which safeguard the right to privacy and the protection of personal data for every Nigerian."