Digital Rights Groups Warn BVN Policy Could Hurt Financial Inclusion
Civil Society Groups Challenge CBN Policy on BVN Phone Number Changes
Advocates Raise Concerns Over Data Rights
CIVIL society organisations and digital rights advocates have called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to review its restrictions on changing phone numbers linked to Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), warning that the policy could undermine financial inclusion and data protection rights.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Executive Director of the Digicivic Initiative, Mojirayo Ogunlana, argued that limiting BVN-linked phone number changes to a single occurrence conflicts with provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), particularly the right of citizens to correct outdated or inaccurate personal information.
The advocacy coalition includes organisations such as Digicivic Initiative, Centre for Information Technology and Development, Accountability Lab, and TechHerNG.
Groups Warn of Risks to Financial Inclusion
The organisations acknowledged the CBN’s efforts to curb fraud and strengthen Nigeria’s digital financial system but maintained that overly rigid restrictions could create unintended consequences.
According to the groups, Nigerians may legitimately need to change their phone numbers due to theft, SIM loss, relocation, security concerns, or changes in telecommunications providers.
They warned that restricting updates could lock vulnerable citizens out of banking and digital financial services, especially individuals living in insecure areas or those with unstable telecommunications access.
Analysts say BVN-linked authentication systems have become central to banking operations, making access to accurate and up-to-date personal data increasingly important for economic participation.
Call for Risk-Based Regulatory Approach
The advocacy groups proposed alternative safeguards including stronger identity verification processes, improved fraud detection systems, audit trails, and risk-based monitoring mechanisms for frequent updates.
They also urged stronger collaboration between the CBN and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to ensure that financial regulations align with national privacy obligations and global data protection standards.
In addition, the groups demanded more transparency around the policy’s development, calling on the apex bank to publish the evidence, stakeholder consultations, and risk assessments that informed the restrictions.
Growing Debate Over Digital Identity Governance
The controversy reflects wider debates over digital identity management and the balance between financial security and citizens’ rights in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Observers note that as banking systems become increasingly digitised, policies governing identity verification are likely to attract closer public scrutiny, particularly where they affect access to essential financial services.
