The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disqualified anyone below the age of 18 from registering and owning a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in Nigeria.
This was revealed in a draft copy of the modified Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on the NCC’s website.
NCC, in the modified regulations, limited telecoms subscribers to only include anyone above the age of 18.
A part of the regulation said, “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 regulations were made in line with the powers conferred upon the commission by section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act,2003.
Adeleke Adewolu, NCC’s Executive Commissioner Stakeholders’ Management, who spoke at an event on Tuesday, said, “The public inquiry is an avenue that enables the commission develop and review its regulatory instruments by incorporating the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders.”
The NCC insisted on 18 years and above for anyone who wants to own and register a SIM in Nigeria.
