News

NCC Bans SIM Ownership For Under-18s, Mandates Parental Registration

Published

2 months ago

Oct 27, 2024.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a new policy barring individuals under 18 from independently owning Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

According to sources within the commission, the policy aims to protect minors from the responsibilities and potential liabilities tied to SIM card ownership.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Senior officials at the NCC described the decision as part of a wider strategy to enhance telecommunications regulations, strengthen national security, and safeguard Nigeria’s young population.

Under the new guidelines, parents and guardians can register SIM cards on behalf of their children and assume full responsibility for any usage associated with these accounts.

“This measure ensures that minors are protected while also reinforcing our national security framework,” a senior NCC official explained.

The NCC considers the purchase and use of a SIM card as a contractual engagement, which requires legal capacity. In Nigeria, legal capacity is attained at 18, the age of consent.

NCC sim under 18

This new regulation, drawn from the NCC’s 2021 Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, is now fully in effect, placing responsibility on parents and guardians to monitor and manage mobile usage for minors in their care.