News
Tinubu orders probe of unauthorised NIN-SIM linkage
President Bola Tinubu has set up an inter-ministerial committee to investigate allegations of telecom providers linking National Identification Numbers to subscribers’ lines without their consent.
Impeccable sources in the Presidency told our correspondent that Tinubu gave the directive on Tuesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
The committee has the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani and the Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda.
Tinubu, who listened to a briefing by the Minister of Interior, directed that the committee consider the matter and provide the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction with accurate data to carry out its mandate.
One source privy to the deliberations at Tuesday’s FEC meeting revealed, “It is an inter-ministerial committee; the President asked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Minister of [Communications, Innovation and] Digital Economy and that of Education, too, to figure out what is going on and deal with the issue.
“The National Security Adviser is also on that committee. The interior minister is there because, you know, NIMC is under the interior.”
Another source, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “It is true; the President set up a small committee to take care of the challenge of the NIN-SIM linkage. The one involving Telcos. He wants that issue resolved as soon as possible.”
However, it was not clear what timeline the President gave to the committee to investigate the matter and revert to him.
Reports reveal that some telecommunications providers linked customers’ National Identification Numbers to their mobile SIM cards without obtaining consent.
Subscribers discovered that their lines had been linked to unfamiliar NIN records or had their own NIN associated with multiple lines without explicit authorisation.
Consumer advocacy groups and affected individuals have called for investigations into how such linking occurred, emphasising the need for improved transparency and stronger data protection measures.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives initiated an investigation into the matter.
This followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Patrick Umoh and Professor Julius Ihonvbere during Wednesday’s plenary.
Umoh, who moved the motion, expressed concerns about the risks posed by this unauthorised linkage, particularly the exposure of subscribers to criminal activities and the potential harm to legitimate NIN holders.
He argued that this practice violates the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, 2019, which protects the privacy and personal data of all Nigerians.
“This action is a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the NDPR, which guarantee the right to privacy and data protection for every Nigerian,” Umoh argued, adding that “The linking of NIN to SIM cards without consent exposes citizens to serious risks, including identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime.”
The lawmaker also highlighted how innocent citizens have been wrongfully implicated in crimes, facing reputational damage, harassment, and legal challenges due to unauthorised data linking.
Therefore, the House tasked its Committees on Communications and Interior with investigating the matter and submitting a report in four weeks.
It also urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to investigate telecom providers involved and take immediate action against those found wanting.
Tuesday’s FEC meeting was the second in the two days, as council members considered 101 memos in both sittings.
The communities came under simultaneous attacks just a day after the killing of 11 persons at Otobi Community also in Otukpo LGA.
Benue has in the past decade experienced incessant attacks.
Suspected herdsmen have again stepped up violent attacks as no fewer than three communities in the Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State were attacked on Wednesday.
The communities affected during the fresh attacks include Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju all in Otukpo where five persons were killed in February. The communities came under simultaneous attacks just a day after the killing of 11 persons at Otobi Community also in Otukpo LGA.
Local sources confirm that several people may have been feared dead again in the fresh attack.
Wednesday’s attack came hours after Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed the arrest of three suspected herders in connection with the invasion of Otobi village on Tuesday night.
When contacted, Otukpo LGA Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack on the three communities, saying that the attackers stormed the communities at the time when the Commissioner of Police was still at the Ochidoma Palace over the previous day’s attack on Otobi.
He added that three people sustained injury in the attacks on the three communities, leading to women and children abandoning the communities for fear of being killed.
“Only young men were in the communities when the attackers arrived. The prompt response from combined security operatives made the attackers flee and none of them were arrested,” Ogiri stated.
The police spokesperson in the state, Sewuese Anene, was yet to confirm details of the attacks on the three communities.
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has hailed the Northern Traditional Rulers for taking bold steps on the menacing security challenges in the region and in the country.
Obi, who was reacting to the ‘Enough is Enough’ declaration of the royal fathers on the security situation, said that their courageous steps are needed to find a lasting solution to the menace.
Writing on his X handle, Obi said “I would like to sincerely thank the Northern Traditional Rulers for their courageous and timely emergency declaration of the security situation in the region. I cannot agree less with them that “Enough is Enough” regarding the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing our nation.
“Their collective voice, as reported, underscores the urgent need for decisive action to protect lives and restore peace in our communities.
“I urge governments at all levels to work closely with these royal fathers who are closest to the people at the grassroots. Their commitment to addressing these challenges and offering counsel to regional governors reflects true leadership and a deep concern for the well-being of their communities.
“The stance of the Northern Traditional Rulers serves as a clarion call to all stakeholders. We must unite, irrespective of political affiliations, to implement lasting solutions that address the root causes of our nation’s challenges.
“Let us work together to build a Nigeria where every citizen feels safe, valued, and empowered.
By Emmanuel Agaji
The Rivers State High Court Chief Registrar, David D Thua-Maduenyi has rubbished speculations suggesting that Rivers Sole Administrator has been removed by the state’s High Court.
Naijablitznews reports this was contained in a statement personally signed by the Chief Registrar saying:
“My attention has been drawn to an online news report with the caption “BREAKING
NEWS: Governor Sim Fubara secures Court victory over Wike and Tinubu –
Federal High Court Orders Sole Administrator to vacate Government House”,
authored by one Joy Musa published by 247 ureports on Tuesday, 15th April, 2025.
“Ordinarily, I would not have bothered myself with any refutal, but for the
mischievous mention of the name of Hon. Justice Boma Diepriye which appears
synonymous with Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri of the Rivers State High Court in
paragraph 4 of the report thus:
“Justice Boma Diepriye, who presided over the case, ruled that the
appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the affairs of a state with
a sitting, democratically elected governor is “illegal, null and void…”
“In view of the above, I wish to state as follows:
Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri is not a Judge of the Federal High Court but a
Judge of the Rivers State High Court, and is already on Easter Vacation,
which commenced on Monday, 14th April, 2025.
“For the period of the Easter Vacation, only the vacation Judge is sitting:
and Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri is not the Vacation Judge.
“The mention of the name of Hon. Justice Boma Diepriye which is similar
with Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri of the Rivers State High Court is not only
false, but misleading, and clearly exposes the crass ignorance of the
reporter; as the Federal High Court is different from Rivers State High
Court.
“No State High Court gave any order(s) relating to or concerning the
subject matter as captioned in the online news.
“It is regrettable that some bloggers and online news reporters have traded
professionalism on the altar of pecuniary gains they seek to derive from traffic on
their social media handle and web pages.
“Henceforth, the Judiciary enjoins the general public to seek clarification on any
news report concerning the Court and official of the Court before publication.
“The general public is advised to clearly ignore the false and misleading publication.
-
News21 hours agoPDP governors declare support for Tinubu
-
News22 hours agoHope for Nigerians as Dangote refinery slashes petrol price again
-
News22 hours agoRivers Emergency Rule: Abbas inaugurates 21-member panel
-
News24 hours agoPeter Obi asks president Tinubu to suspend France trip
-
News21 hours agoN1.3trn CBEX Scam: EFCC caution Nigerians against Ponzi Schemes
-
News8 hours agoFG expresses sympathy for CBEX victims, urges a united effort to combat Ponzi schemes
-
News24 hours agoINEC chair, Yakubu calls on African youths to promote peaceful elections
-
News21 hours agoSuswan kicks as PDP governors reject merger talks