No SIM for Nigerians below 18, says NCC

Anyone in Nigeria below the age of 18 will not be allowed to register and own a Subscriber Identity Module, the Nigerian Communications Commission has said.

This is contained in a draft copy of the modified Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on the commission’s website, according to a report by The PUNCH.

In the modified regulations, the NCC limited telecoms subscribers to only include anyone above the age of 18.

“‘Subscriber’ means a person not below the age of 18 years who subscribes to communications services by purchasing a subscription medium or entering into a subscription contract with a licensee.”

The licensee refers to ‘a provider of communications services that utilises a subscription medium in the Federal Republic of Nigeria’.

The commission said the regulations were made in line with the powers conferred upon the commission by section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

It stated that in accordance with Section 57 of the Act, it conducted a public inquiry in Abuja on Tuesday on the registration of telephone subscribers’ regulations, alongside the draft SIM replacement guidelines and the draft spectrum trading guidelines at its head office.

Executive Commissioner Stakeholders’ Management at the NCC, Mr Adeleke Adewolu, said, “The public inquiry is an avenue that enables the commission develop and review its regulatory instruments by incorporating the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders.”

During the public inquiry held physically and virtually, key stakeholders, including MTN, urged the commission to revise the age limit and make it 14 years. But the NCC insisted on 18 years.