Sequel to this thread below:

https://www.nairaland.com/6970736/nin-sim-linkage-security-agencies-get

I think it is a disastrous policy to allow security agencies have unfettered access to the personal details of private citizens.

The beauty of democracy and democratic processes is the component of check and balance within the government system. In civilized countries, the privacy of citizens are paramount and non-negotiable.

If you recall, President Nixon of the USA got impeached and removed from power for wiretapping the phone of political opposition without legal backing, in what is famously known as the Watergate scandal.

There has to be checks and balances for a democracy to remain a democracy, otherwise it will descend into tyranny and dictatorship.

In the USA, a sample of a civilized democracy, national security agencies like the FBI, CIA, NSA must get approval from the Courts before they can tap into the call records or info of private citizens that are not within the normal crime database.

They must approach to court to explain and prove their case to a judge as to why he must grant them legal backing to access a citizen's phone details or privacy records. This is what checks and balances is about, so that security agencies can be accountable and can be held accountable, and don't descend to impunity and lawless abuse of power.

We all saw the news of the famous "super cop", flawless and spotless seemingly until he was unraveled and exposed by the FBI to have been paid by a renowned fraudster to settle his personal vendetta against another fellow fraudster.

Imagine what seemingly incorruptible police officers and other security agencies members with direct access to the citizen's NIN database can do when they are being paid by unscrupulous elements to carry out witch hunts or eliminate perceived enemies.

NIN contains too much sensitive info that totally unmasks a citizen's identity and unlocks privacy. Imagine rogue officers knowing your house, your family, your personal records just by having direct access to your NIN.

The FG govt must as a matter of an urgent solemn duty review and reverse such a detrimental policy that will spell disaster for citizens when rogue agents and rogue agencies start abusing or misusing their powers and become a menace to society.

Security agencies MUST be compelled and mandated to go through the court system as a regulatory framework and check and balance system before they can access citizen's NIN database on a case by case individual basis. Remember absolute power corrupts absolutely.

This OP is high on agege weed