The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a rule that prevents anyone under 18 from buying a SIM card in Nigeria.
According to an NCC official, the policy is intended to “protect minors” from potential issues that may come with using SIM cards. Instead, parents or guardians can purchase SIM cards in their own names for their children, taking on any responsibilities or issues that may arise from the usage of these SIMs.
The main goal is to protect young people and enhance national security. The NCC considers SIM ownership a contractual agreement with mobile providers, which requires subscribers to be mature enough to handle responsibilities tied to the service.
Back in 2021, the NCC had suggested a ban on minors owning SIM cards, and now it’s officially in effect. An NCC representative also highlighted that this policy makes it crucial for parents to monitor their children’s mobile activities.
Due to updated policies, including requirements for linking SIMs to verified National Identification Numbers (NIN), Nigeria’s mobile subscriber count has dropped from 219 million in March to 153 million in September. Additionally, one mobile network provider inaccurately reported about 40 million inactive users as active, which affected industry statistics and led to inflated subscriber figures.