The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has explained why it wants Nigerians below the age of 18 barred from owning a SIM card.
The telecoms regulator said the plan is to “protect minors” and protect them from the liabilities of that arise from the usage of such SIMs.
“The age of 18 years for SIM acquisition proposed in the draft regulation is contingent on the constitutional provision, which makes 18 years the age of consent in Nigeria. Also, SIM acquisition is a contract between service providers and their subscribers, which requires the subscriber to have proper legal status, be of matured mind and rational enough to bear certain responsibilities, obligations and liabilities imposed by a contract,” the commission said in a statement late Wednesday.
NCC’s proposal says that “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.”
In its response, the NCC said the regulation had not been finalised, and claimed earlier media reports were “misleading”, even though it confirmed the proposed ban.
