![]() Nigeria has been rolling out 11-digit electronic national identity cards for almost a decade, which record an individual's personal and biometric data, including fingerprints and photo. Nigeria is among dozens of African countries including Ghana, Egypt and Kenya with SIM registration laws that authorities say are necessary for security purposes, but digital rights experts say increase surveillance and hurts privacy. "With the rising insecurity in the north, not speaking with my son makes me afraid." "I could not concentrate at work I was uneasy and constantly asking myself if he was safe," said Chioma, a 57-year-old teacher in Owerri city in southeast Nigeria. She later realised her SIM card was one of about 73 million - more than a third of the 198 million in Nigeria - which have been barred from making outgoing calls because they have not been registered in the national digital identity database. ![]() ![]() ![]() OWERRI, Nigeria, April 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Constance Chioma calls her son every morning to check that he is safe while studying in northeast Nigeria, a region plagued by deadly attacks by Islamist insurgents and armed kidnappings.Įarlier this month, she could not get through. Nigerians raise concerns over privacy, data security, access One-third of mobile users blocked for failing to comply Outgoing calls barred on mobile SIMs not linked to NIN database The government says the crackdown will boost security and stop crime but rural and poor citizens cut off from family and business contacts
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