The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has slammed a fine of N104m on Airtel Networks Limited for violating SIM registration directives in Kano State.
This was disclosed in an official Notice of Sanction dated May 26, 2025, and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria at the company’s headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The notice, signed by senior NCC officials, Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal & Regulatory Services, and Mohammed B. Dari, Acting Head of Compliance Monitoring & Enforcement, followed earlier correspondences, including a directive issued on January 12, 2025, and a pre-enforcement notice sent on March 19, 2025.
The NCC highlighted that despite previous warnings, Airtel failed to comply with specific instructions to suspend SIM registrations by third-party agents in Kano State.
A meeting was subsequently held on March 27, 2025, after Airtel’s response dated March 24, but the Commission found the company’s explanation unsatisfactory.
Following investigations, the NCC established the following infractions:
1. Unauthorized SIM Registrations: Airtel conducted 8,275 SIM registrations using 198 unapproved devices outside its 281 verified retail shops in Kano.
2. Premature SIM Activations: The company activated 63 mobile numbers (MSISDNs) before proper registration, in breach of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022.
3. Failure to Verify Identities (Eyeballing): Airtel failed to properly verify identities during registration, resulting in 407 fraudulent SIMs linked to multiple National Identification Numbers (NINs).
4. Unexplained Night-Time Registrations: The Commission also noted SIM registrations were carried out between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., with no credible explanation provided by Airtel.
As a result of these violations, the NCC imposed the following penalties:
– ₦5 million for failing to suspend third-party SIM registrations using unauthorized devices.
– ₦12.6 million for the 63 cases of premature SIM activations.
– ₦81.4 million for ineffective eyeballing, which led to 407 fraudulent registrations.
– ₦5 million for not providing satisfactory explanations regarding night-time SIM registrations.
The total fine amounts to ₦104 million, which the Commission directed Airtel to pay within seven days from the date of the notice.
“Please note, that by this letter, Airtel is also strongly warned to desist from conducting registrations and activation of MSISDNs without complying with the Business Rules and provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022,” the notice stated.
The NCC emphasised that the sanctions are in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement Process) Regulations 2019, and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding integrity in the telecoms industry.
Airtel Nigeria is yet to publicly responded to the NCC’s sanctions.
