Airtel Nigeria is facing a ₦104 million regulatory penalty from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for alleged widespread violations of SIM card registration protocols in Kano, raising fresh concerns over national security and data integrity in the telecoms sector, according to the telecoms regulator.
The sanction letter, seen by Technology Times, issued May 26, 2025, marks one of the NCC’s toughest enforcement actions this year, targeting what the telecoms regulator describes as systemic non-compliance with rules designed to curb identity fraud, criminal anonymity, and network abuse by the nation’s number two mobile network operator, Airtel Nigeria, according to insiders at the agency.
NCC’s notice, signed by Chizua Whyte ((Head, Legal & Regulatory Services at NCC) and Mohammed B. Dari (Ag. Head, Compliance Monitoring & Info at NCC) for Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, describes Airtel Nigeria’s actions as breaches of national trust.
407 fraudulent SIMs were linked to multiple National Identity Numbers (NINs), indicating that proper “eyeballing”—a physical identity verification procedure—was not conducted by Airtel’s agents. The failure to conduct effective eyeballing, NCC says, led to 407 fraudulent SIM registrations with multiple NINs, also contrary to the provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 20221.
Airtel’s infractions, NCC says, ranging from unauthorised SIM enrolments to failure in basic identity verification, have prompted the regulator to act decisively, highlighting once again the critical role of SIM registration in Nigeria’s national security infrastructure.
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SIMs, sanctions and security: What went wrong in Kano
At the centre of the enforcement are four major breaches uncovered by NCC’s monitoring teams during field audits and compliance checks conducted between February and March this year.
- Unauthorised SIM enrolments: 198 unapproved devices operated by third-party agents facilitated 8,275 SIM registrations outside Airtel’s 281 authorised shops in Kano—a breach of NCC’s January 12, 2025 directive suspending third-party registrations in the state. According to NCC, the unauthorized SIM registrations was carried out by Airtel Nigeria using 198 unapproved devices, resulting in 8,275 registrations occurring outside the 281 verified Airtel shops.
- Premature activations: 63 mobile numbers (MSISDNs) were activated before completion of the mandatory SIM registration process, violating provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022. The regulator says that the premature activation of 63 MSISDNs was conducted before proper SIM registration was completed, which is contrary to the provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 20221.
- Identity verification failures: 407 fraudulent SIMs were linked to multiple National Identity Numbers (NINs), indicating that proper “eyeballing”—a physical identity verification procedure—was not conducted by Airtel’s agents. The failure to conduct effective eyeballing, NCC says, led to 407 fraudulent SIM registrations with multiple NINs, also contrary to the provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 20221.
- Unexplained night-time registrations: Airtel Nigeria failed to justify why some SIMs were registered between midnight and 6am, a red flag for potential abuse. The telecoms regulator says that Airtel failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for SIM registrations that were conducted between 12:00 am and 6:00 am.
These infractions, according to NCC insiders, not only breach the rules but also erode trust in Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.
Airtel Nigeria failed to justify why some SIMs were registered between midnight and 6am, a red flag for potential abuse. The telecoms regulator says that Airtel failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for SIM registrations that were conducted between 12:00 am and 6:00 am.
Breakdown of the ₦104 million fine
- Airtel was sanctioned by NCC for several infractions related to SIM registration directives in Kano State, with specific penalties for each. The total sanction for these violations amounts to ₦104,000,000 (One Hundred and Four Million Naira), which should be paid within seven days of receiving the Notice of Sanction, according to NCC. The details of each infraction and its corresponding penalty are as follows:
- Unauthorized SIM registrations: Airtel conducted 8,275 SIM registrations outside of the 281 verified Airtel shops, utilizing 198 unapproved devices. For this breach, Airtel is directed to pay a sum of ₦5,000,000 (Five Million Naira).
- Premature activation of MSISDNs: 63 MSISDNs were prematurely activated before proper SIM registration was completed, which violates the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 20221. Airtel is directed to pay a fine of ₦12,600,000 (Twelve Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) for this infraction.
- Failure to conduct effective eyeballing: This led to 407 fraudulent SIM registrations with multiple NINs, also contrary to the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 20221. Airtel is directed to pay a fine of ₦81,400,000 (Eight One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) for this failure.
- Failure to explain late-night registrations: Airtel failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for SIM registrations conducted between 12:00 am and 6:00 am. For this failure, Airtel is directed to pay a fine of ₦5,000,000 (Five Million Naira).
- Airtel has been given seven days to pay the full amount and take corrective measures, NCC says.
In the Nigerian context, “eyeballing” is not mere jargon. It refers to the manual verification of a person’s face against the details on their National Identity Number (NIN). This procedure, introduced to fight identity fraud, ensures that mobile lines are not being registered to ghost identities or used anonymously for criminal activity, according to NCC.
Why eyeballing matters in Nigeria’s SIM regime
In the Nigerian context, “eyeballing” is not mere jargon. It refers to the manual verification of a person’s face against the details on their National Identity Number (NIN). This procedure, introduced to fight identity fraud, ensures that mobile lines are not being registered to ghost identities or used anonymously for criminal activity, according to NCC.
By failing to carry out effective eyeballing, Airtel allowed duplicate and potentially fictitious identities to slip through its systems—posing serious threats to law enforcement and public safety.
National security risks and industry wake-up call
The Commission stresses that SIM registration protocols are a frontline defence against terrorism, fraud, and digital crime. With unregistered or fraudulently registered SIMs often linked to ransom demands, scam syndicates, and anonymous calls, the stakes go far beyond corporate compliance.
Industry watchers see this as a warning shot across the telecoms sector, signalling that regulators are intensifying their scrutiny as Nigeria pushes forward with its digital transformation and identity infrastructure.
Implications for Airtel Nigeria and the wider telecoms market
For Airtel, the sanction poses financial, operational, and reputational challenges. It raises questions about internal controls, quality assurance, and agent oversight in Nigeria’s competitive telecoms market.
For rival operators, it sends a clear message: compliance failures will attract not only penalties but public censure. The NCC is tightening the screws—and no player is too big to face consequences.
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