NCC bans Nigerians below 18 years from Purchasing SIM cards

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has banned citizens below 18 years from registering and owning a SIM card in Nigeria.

This was contained in a draft copy of the modified Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on the commission’s website, recently.

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

The new regulations reads in part;

“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 utilizes a subscription medium in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”

The event, tagged Public Inquiry on the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, alongside the draft SIM Replacement Guidelines and the draft Spectrum Trading Guideline, was held at the NCC head office in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to reports, during the public inquiry which was held physically and virtually, key stakeholders including MTN, asked the commission to revise the age limit.

MTN asked the commission to make the age limit 14 years and above. The NCC, however, insisted on 18 years and above for anyone who wants to own and register a SIM in Nigeria