By Eunice Stephen
Telecommunication companies in Nigeria have started the implementation of age restrictions for mobile subscribers below the age of 18, as required in the recent guidelines for SIM registration issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The move will lead to the disconnection of all mobile lines registered by persons under the specified legal age. NCC revealed the reason for the actions In a statement, that the age restriction on mobile subscriptions was to protect minors in Nigeria.
The Communication body said the development also aligns with the Nigerian constitution recognizing 18 as the age a Nigerian can enter into a contractual relationship.
The commission explained that the SIM acquisition is a contract between service providers and subscribers, requiring subscribers to have proper legal status, be mature, and be rational enough to bear some responsibilities, obligations, and liabilities imposed by a contract.
NCC further revealed that parents and guardians can purchase SIM cards in their names on behalf of their children and ward and assume responsibilities arising from their uses. “While the Commission is progressively pursuing digital inclusion for all, the draft proposal is intended to guarantee increased monitoring of children and shield the minors from undue liabilities in line with NCC’s Child Online Protection drive”.
Already, some telcos have begun the implementation of the policy as MTN stated in its half-year 2023 report that it has commenced implementation in the second quarter of 2023, leading to a fall in its subscriber base.
Data released by NCC shows that the total active mobile subscription across mobile networks has declined by 1 million in April this year despite new subscriptions. In May, active mobile subscriptions declined by 2.5 million. The trend continued in June as data by NCC for the month showed a further drop in connected mobile lines by 1.2 million, bringing the total active mobile subscriptions in Nigeria to 219.7 million at the end of June.