The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a new policy that stops anyone under 18 from buying a SIM card in Nigeria. The move, reported by Premium Times, is designed to protect minors and improve security in Nigeria's telecommunications sector.
T he NThe CC’s main goal is to protect young people from the risks and responsibilities that come with having a SIM card. Allowing minors to own SIM cards can expose them to potential issues like scams, security risks, and unwanted liabilities. To avoid these, the new rule allows only Nigerians 18 or older to buy and register a SIM in their own names.
But parents and guardians can still buy SIM cards on behalf of their children. This way, adults can supervise their children's mobile usage, helping to keep them safe.
In Nigeria, 18 is the age of consent, meaning that at 18, a person is legally mature enough to enter contracts. The NCC considers SIM card ownership a contract with the telecom provider, requiring the owner to understand and handle the responsibilities that come with it. By setting 18 as the age limit, the NCC aims to ensure that only those who meet this age requirement own SIM cards directly.
Nigeria’s mobile subscriptions have been dropping since the NCC enforced the National Identification Number (NIN) linkage policy, which disconnects unregistered SIMs. Since March, active subscriptions fell from 219 million to 153 million. This new age restriction may further reduce subscription numbers, as younger Nigerians are no longer eligible to buy SIM cards directly. CODE [ GI44Q]
Now, parents and guardians need to be more involved in monitoring their children’s phone activities. Since they will be responsible for SIMs used by minors, parents can keep a closer watch on calls, internet usage, and online activities, helping to protect their children.
The NCC continues to work on policies to improve security in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry. By restricting SIM ownership to those 18 and older, the NCC aims to reduce security threats like fraud and unauthorized access to personal information.