A second agent offered to retrieve a suspected “criminal’s” data for ₦1,000. Within a minute of receiving the phone number, he displayed the individual’s personal information on a tablet.
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**NIMC Agents Selling Nigerians’ Personal Data for ₦1,000, FIJ Investigation Reveals**
**LAGOS, Aug. 10, 2025** — Agents of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Lagos have been caught selling citizens’ personal data for as little as ₦1,000, in violation of Nigerian data protection laws, an investigation by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has revealed.
The investigation found that some NIMC field agents would provide an individual’s details — including residential address — using only the person’s phone number.
During a visit to Ikeja, FIJ reporters approached several NIMC agents stationed outside booths. While one declined, a second agent offered to retrieve a suspected “criminal’s” data for ₦1,000. Within a minute of receiving the phone number, he displayed the individual’s personal information on a tablet.
A female agent also offered similar access but was unable to retrieve the details, later requesting ₦500 instead. She referred the reporter to another contact who “might” assist.
Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s head of corporate communications, denied the commission authorised any such activity. “The law is clear: the giver and the receiver are guilty,” he said.
Section 26 of the NIMC Act (2007) prohibits unauthorised access to data without individual consent or commission approval, with penalties of at least 10 years’ imprisonment. The Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023) similarly restricts processing of personal data without valid legal basis or consent.
FIJ stated that, for this report, the data subject gave consent. However, the agents acted without NIMC authorisation, breaching the law.