Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is working closely with law enforcement agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Police Force to track and apprehend individuals involved in identity theft and cybercrime.
This is coming on the heels of rising insecurity and other criminalities which has cashed into the poorly regulated SIM card registration.
Identity theft has been a major challenge faced by Nigeria.
According to Nigeria Tribune, it is not uncommon for criminals to use SIM cards registered under different names to aid in their illegal activities.
For example, kidnappers often use unregistered SIM cards or ones registered under false names to demand ransom from their victims’ families.
Dr Rueben Mouka, director Public Affairs of the NCC, said the major step taken by the NCC to address identity theft is the initiation of the mandatory linking of the National Identity Number with individual’s sim cards., according to Nigeria Tribune.
Apart from this huge step, the NCC had also taken more steps to address this issue and secure individuals from criminal elements.
The NCC had initiated the mandatory registration of sim cards and even took more steps to ensure that all the sims are linked to the individual’s National Identity Number (NIN).
This move is very strategic because once you have a NIN, your data would have been in possession of the government. This will reduce identity theft.
The NCC mandated telecom operators to register all SIM cards with valid identification documents such as the National Identification Number (NIN).
This helps in linking phone numbers to individuals, reducing the chances of criminals using unregistered lines for fraudulent activities.
The NCC is also supporting the government’s drive to integrate SIM cards with the National Identity Number (NIN) database.
This ensures that every mobile phone user in Nigeria is properly identified, making it more difficult for fraudsters to impersonate others or engage in identity theft.
To ensure that Nigerians are carried along in this strategic move, the NCC is currently running an awareness campaign to educate the public on how to protect their personal data, avoid sharing sensitive information with strangers, and recognize common tactics used in identity theft schemes.
The NCC has also implemented policies that require telecom companies to protect subscriber data from unauthorized access.
These regulations aim to ensure that personal information is not leaked or misused by third parties.
The Commission is also promoting capacity building in cybersecurity through training and collaboration with local and international bodies.
This helps improve the country’s ability to prevent and respond to identity theft incidents.
