The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has implemented a new regulation prohibiting Nigerians under the age of 18 from purchasing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. This decision, according to sources within the commission, aims to protect minors from potential risks and liabilities associated with SIM ownership.
A senior NCC official informed PREMIUM TIMES that, under the new policy, parents and guardians are allowed to acquire SIM cards in their own names on behalf of their children or dependents. In such cases, the responsibility for any liabilities or issues arising from the SIM’s use will fall to the adult purchaser.
The NCC’s policy overhaul is part of its broader efforts to enhance national security. By revisiting its telecommunications policies, the NCC seeks to counter security threats across the nation. Under Nigerian law, the age of legal consent is 18, which the NCC considers a threshold for the maturity required to manage the contractual obligations associated with SIM card ownership.
This policy echoes the 2021 proposal under the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, which initially suggested restricting minors from acquiring SIM cards. Officials confirm that this regulation is now fully enacted, placing greater responsibility on parents to oversee their children’s mobile activities.
Statistics reveal a sharp drop in Nigeria’s mobile subscriptions, from 219 million in March to 153 million in September, which authorities attribute to the deactivation of SIM cards not linked to a verified National Identification Number (NIN).