NCC moves to end pre-registered SIM cards, tighten telecom rules

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a renewed effort to end the sale and use of pre-registered SIM cards and tighten overall telecom regulations in Nigeria. The announcement came on Tuesday during a Public Inquiry on three subsidiary legislations, the Licensing Regulations 2019, Enforcement Process Regulations 2019, and Internet Code of Practice 2019, held at the NCC headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja.

The move is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening compliance, licensing, and internet governance across the sector. Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Barrister Rimini Makama, said the review was critical to addressing emerging challenges in the fast-evolving communications landscape. He said that the updated Enforcement Process Regulations would provide a transparent and accountable framework for compliance monitoring, investigation, and sanctions.

He described these practices as threats to both national security and operator revenue, adding that the new measures would help reinforce public trust in the Commission’s oversight role. Dr. Maida also highlighted reforms in the Licensing Regulations, which have been refined to accommodate technological advancements and streamline business processes. He said, “These amendments have become imperative to ensure that nagging regulatory breaches such as the prevalence of pre-registered SIM cards and call masking are addressed promptly, fairly, and efficiently. The revisions introduce provisions on general authorisations, license renewals, corporate restructuring, and sanctions to encourage innovation and improve ease of doing business,” he said, adding that these changes would position operators to compete effectively and attract more investment into the Nigerian telecoms market.

On the third regulation, the Internet Code of Practice, Dr. Maida said the document, now being converted into a Guideline, and aims to safeguard user rights, promote open internet access, and ensure service providers uphold high ethical and technical standards. He said that the updated Code includes provisions covering cybersecurity, data protection, artificial intelligence, child online safety, and anti-spam measures. “With the internet becoming a dominant platform for communication and commerce, there is a need for stronger guardrails to protect citizens, especially children and other vulnerable groups, from harmful online content,” he said. The Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, represented by the Head of Dispute and Litigation, Lawrence Abang, explained that the review followed a six-month consultation process.

She said the updates reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to inclusive and transparent regulation.
“Compliance with the Commission’s rules is central to its mandate, and the proposed amendments will strengthen the mechanisms for ensuring adherence and applying appropriate sanctions where necessary,” she said, adding that the revised licensing framework would boost investor confidence and open the market to new entrants. On the Internet Code, Whyte stressed that the regulation seeks to ensure that access providers take responsibility for curbing exposure to crimes such as identity theft, misinformation, hate speech, and other social harms associated with unregulated online activity.

She said, “The communications industry is undergoing significant transformation in this digital era,” emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks to evolve at the same pace as technology.