Citizens Under The Age Of 18 Can Own SIM Cards If Their Parents Do So, NCC Says
Citizens under the age of 18 can own SIM cards if their parents do so, NCC says
Citizens under the age of 18 are not permitted to own a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card in Nigeria, according to news reports. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which regulates the country's telecommunications industry, has denied the reports.
The news reports that appeared on major platforms yesterday were implied by revisions to the draft copy of the modified Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, which was released for public comment yesterday.
In the opinion of Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs for the NCC, the reports are deceptive and inaccurate. Specifically, he asserted that this amounts to a misrepresentation of the proceedings of a Public Inquiry into draft subscribers' regulations that took place on Tuesday, October 6, 2021.
Adinde stated that the misrepresented regulatory item is consistent with the country's constitution, which is as follows:
"If the constitutional provision establishing 18 as the legal age of consent in Nigeria is implemented, the proposed age of 18 years for SIM acquisition will be conditional on that provision. In addition, SIM acquisition is a contract between service providers and their subscribers that requires the subscriber to be of legal age in order to assume certain responsibilities, obligations, and liabilities imposed by the contract on the service provider."
He explained that the proposed regulation is intended to protect children as well as their parents or guardians from harm. "Parents and guardians may acquire SIM cards in their names on behalf of their children and wards, in which case they assume all responsibilities and liabilities associated with such SIM use," he writes in his conclusion.
No one will be left out, and the NCC will also be able to contribute to national security as a result of this.
According to Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, the commission was given the authority to promulgate the rules and regulations in this regard. The National Communications Commission (NCC) conducted a public inquiry into the registration of telephone subscribers regulations, as well as the draft SIM replacement guidelines and the draft spectrum trading guidelines, in accordance with Section 57 of the Act.
A report from the public inquiry stated that some operators proposed revising the age limit, with MTN proposing a reduction to 14 years old, but the regulatory authority insisted on keeping it at 18.
