The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has rejected assertions that kidnappers and other criminals continue to exploit unregistered or fraudulently registered SIM cards in Nigeria, despite the nationwide NIN‑SIM linkage requirement.
Appearing on _Politics Today_ with Seun Okinbaloye, Tijani said he was unaware of any concrete evidence showing the existence of unregistered lines within the telecom network, emphasizing that the country’s biometric systems—including the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN)—should, in principle, enable law‑enforcement agencies to trace illicit activity.
He explained that the real challenge lies in the sophisticated methods criminals employ to evade detection. Rather than relying on conventional cell towers, offenders use advanced technology that routes calls through multiple towers, causing the signal to vanish once they leave an area.
This discovery follows a nationwide SIM‑cleanup exercise carried out by telecom operators to eliminate improperly registered devices, and it underscores the technical complexity of the problem.In response, President Bola Tinubu has directed increased investment in telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions where criminal groups often operate.
The government is upgrading Nigeria’s two communication satellites to provide coverage in areas where terrestrial towers are ineffective, and it is expanding fibre‑optic and satellite networks to bolster national security and promote digital inclusion.
Nigeria remains the only West African nation with its own communication satellites, and these initiatives aim to close coverage gaps that could be exploited by illicit actors.
