The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially restricted the purchase of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to Nigerians aged 18 and above, a move aimed at protecting minors from potential liabilities.
According to sources within the commission, this policy shift seeks to safeguard young users while bolstering national security.
A senior official at the NCC explained that, under the new rule, parents and guardians can still obtain SIMs in their own names on behalf of minors, assuming responsibility for any liabilities that may arise from their usage.
This approach aligns with the Nigerian Constitution, which designates 18 as the age of consent, ensuring that only adults can engage in contractual obligations with telecom service providers.
The groundwork for this policy was laid in 2021 when the NCC introduced the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, proposing to ban minors from acquiring SIM cards.
The commission has been progressively revising its telecom policies to address security concerns, as the agency believes SIM registration constitutes a contract that requires legal capacity and maturity to manage associated responsibilities.
The policy comes amid a notable reduction in Nigeria’s mobile subscriptions, which dropped from 219 million in March to 153 million in September.
Officials attribute the decline to the mandatory linking of SIMs with a verified National Identification Number (NIN), which has led to the deactivation of unregistered lines.
The NCC’s directive will not only place greater responsibility on parents to monitor their children’s mobile activity but also represents a step toward reinforcing security measures across Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.