The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has implemented a new policy disqualifying Nigerians under the age of 18 from purchasing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, according to reports from Premium Times.

The NCC stated that the policy aims to protect minors from potential liabilities associated with SIM usage. However, parents and guardians can acquire SIMs on behalf of their children and will assume full responsibility for any issues arising from their use.

A senior NCC official explained that the measure is part of efforts to protect children and enhance national security, noting that telecommunications contracts require subscribers to be of legal age and mentally competent to bear obligations and liabilities. In Nigeria, the age of consent is 18.

“The acquisition of SIM cards is a contractual agreement between service providers and subscribers, requiring the subscriber to have legal status and responsibility,” the official stated.

The regulation banning minors from purchasing SIMs was first proposed in the NCC’s 2021 Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations and has now been formally implemented. Officials noted that the policy also encourages parents to take an active role in monitoring their children’s mobile activities.
Meanwhile, recent data shows a significant decline in Nigeria’s mobile subscriptions, which dropped from 219 million in March to 153 million in September. Officials attribute this drop to the removal of unregistered SIMs that were not linked to valid National Identification Numbers (NINs).

This new policy is part of broader efforts by the NCC to address national security challenges and ensure responsible SIM registration across the country.