President Bola Tinubu has established an inter-ministerial committee to investigate unauthorized linkages of National Identification Numbers (NIN) to SIM cards by telecommunications providers. This action follows reports that some telecom companies have linked customers' NINs to SIM cards without obtaining their consent, leading to concerns over potential identity theft, financial fraud, and other cybercrimes.

The committee comprises the Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Interior, Budget and Economic Planning, Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Education, as well as the National Security Adviser. Their mandate is to investigate the unauthorized NIN-SIM linkages and implement measures to address the issue promptly.

In a related development, the House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to investigate these unauthorized linkages and take immediate action against any telecom service provider found culpable. The House also mandated its Committees on Communications and Interior to conduct a thorough investigation and report back within four weeks.

These steps underscore the government's commitment to safeguarding citizens' personal data and ensuring that telecom providers adhere to data protection regulations.