NCC Bans SIM Card Sales to Under-18s

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a ban on the issuance of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to individuals under the age of 18. This policy aims to protect minors from the potential liabilities associated with SIM card usage, according to officials at the commission.

A senior NCC official revealed that while minors cannot directly obtain a SIM card, parents and guardians are permitted to acquire them in their names. This arrangement places the responsibility and any arising liabilities squarely on the adults who manage these accounts.

The NCC’s decision reflects a broader strategy to enhance national security and ensure that telecommunications contracts are entered into by individuals who possess the legal capacity to understand and accept their obligations. The commission emphasizes that at 18, individuals are considered mature enough to assume the responsibilities that come with mobile phone usage.

The policy follows the NCC’s 2021 proposal for the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, which suggested similar restrictions on SIM card acquisition by minors. Now officially in effect, this regulation is expected to empower parents to closely monitor their children’s mobile activities.

This latest development comes amidst a notable decline in Nigeria’s mobile subscriptions, which plummeted from 219 million in March to 153 million in September. The drop is largely attributed to the recent enforcement of a rule requiring SIM cards to be linked to verified National Identification Numbers (NINs).

Additionally, officials highlighted discrepancies in subscriber data from a Mobile Network Operator, which falsely reported approximately 40 million active subscribers despite no revenue-generating activity for over 90 days. This misrepresentation has led to inflated figures and skewed industry statistics, prompting further scrutiny from the NCC.