Global Times Nigeria report that the Nigerian Communications Commission has announced that anyone under the age of 18 will be barred from registering for and owning a SIM card in the country, effective immediately.
According to information extracted from the commission’s website, a draft copy of the modified registration of telephone subscribers regulations has been made available for public inspection.
The NCC regulation stated that subscribers under the age of 18 were not permitted to have SIM cards, according to the commission’s revised regulations.
It was decided to issue the regulation in accordance with the authority granted to the commission by Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
A Public Inquiry on the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, as well as draft SIM Replacement Guidelines and draft Spectrum Trading Guidelines, were held at the NCC’s Abuja headquarters on Tuesday, in accordance with Section 57 of the Act. MTN, a telecommunications behemoth, expressed opposition to the directive at the Public Inquiry, stating that the age limit should be 14 years.
The NCC maintained its position, noting that the age limit remains at 18 years.
