Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-04-10 03:06:24
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has come under scrutiny regarding the security measures put in place for its self-service app for National Identification Number (NIN). Telecoms/technology expert, Kehinde Aluko, has raised concerns about the potential risks associated with implementing a self-service application for identity record modifications by NIMC. He believes that while the app may seem convenient on the surface, the intricacy of citizens’ data in the NIMC database necessitates a higher level of security to prevent unauthorized access and modifications.
Aluko highlighted several challenges related to data privacy, data integrity, and national security that could arise from inadequately securing the self-service application. He warned that weak authentication mechanisms could expose personal information to unauthorized access, violating privacy regulations. Additionally, inadequate control over data sharing and display functionalities may inadvertently expose personal information to unauthorized parties, posing a risk to data privacy.
In terms of data integrity, Aluko expressed concern that without comprehensive logging and auditing capabilities, it could be difficult to trace who made changes to the data, leading to accountability issues. Malicious actors could exploit vulnerabilities in the application to alter data for fraudulent purposes, impacting the integrity of the information. This could result in identity theft, fake identities, or unauthorized access to sensitive systems, posing threats to national security.
To mitigate these risks, Aluko recommended implementing robust authentication and authorization mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations through regular audits and assessments. He also advised developing stringent access controls and monitoring systems to prevent unauthorized access and modifications, as well as creating detailed audit logs to track user actions for accountability and traceability. Data encryption both at rest and in transit, regular application updates and patching, and user education and awareness programs were also suggested as essential security measures.
Aluko also raised concerns about the potential implications of frequent changes to identity attributes by Nigerians, such as changing names and dates of birth at will. He questioned how these changes would be integrated with immigration systems domestically and internationally, especially if someone consistently alters their identity information over short periods of time.
Overall, Aluko emphasized the importance of implementing comprehensive security measures to ensure the protection of data privacy, data integrity, and national security in the self-service identity modification application. By carefully addressing these challenges and implementing robust security measures, NIMC can mitigate the risks associated with the application and safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access and modifications.
