• The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched new measures to eliminate pre-registered SIM cards.
• The regulator plans stricter field inspections, sanctions for complicit operators, and closer coordination with security agencies and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
• The move aims to enhance digital security and support Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced new measures to eliminate the sale and use of pre-registered SIM cards as part of efforts to strengthen telecom regulation and digital security, according to several local media reports on Nov. 11, 2025.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader push to make the telecom sector a key pillar of the digital economy.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida said pre-registered SIM cards pose a serious threat to national cybersecurity because they enable crimes such as fraud, identity theft, and money laundering.

The regulator plans to intensify field inspections, impose sanctions on operators found complicit, and coordinate more closely with law enforcement and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

“The updated enforcement regulation will provide a transparent and accountable framework for compliance monitoring, investigations, and sanctions,” Maida said.

Nigeria, with more than 220 million mobile subscribers, has previously carried out several sector clean-up campaigns, including mandatory SIM registration linked to the National Identification Number (NIN). Despite these efforts, loopholes persist, particularly among informal vendors who continue to sell pre-activated SIM cards.

Through this latest initiative, the NCC aims to improve user traceability and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Officials said tighter regulation is essential to support the growth of mobile financial services and e-commerce.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum