PM News
President Muhammadu Buhari has given security agencies the approval to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission in the course of carrying out their duties.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, confirmed the development while speaking to Nigerian journalists on the sidelines of LEAP 22, a technology event, currently holding Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He said the Nigerian Communications Commission has conveyed the president’s approval to the relevant security agencies.
According to Pantami, the development would enhance security as it would help security operatives to go after kidnappers and other criminals.
The minister said, “Some of the security institutions, based on the cybercrime law, are allowed to gain access to the database without coming to us because the database allows for lawful intercept. That lawful intercept was allowed in order to support our security agencies.
“Mr. President has given approval for them to do it, without even our intervention. So, with that approval, the NCC has conveyed that through my office to all the relevant institutions that the President has granted approval for that.
“So, with it, they can gain access into the database even without our permission, and they have never complained to me, even for once. The only person that wrote a letter to me is the Minister of Defence, asking that we should try to finish the NIN-SIM policy on time.”
The National Identity Management Commission currently has the data of over 73 million Nigerians who have linked…
