Telecom
Why Millions of Africans are Right to Resist Mobile SIM Card Registration
By Dr Tony Roberts and Ridwan Oloyede
Mobile SIM registration linked to digital ID is causing exclusion of marginalised groups, and concerns about privacy in the absence of sufficient legal safeguards, especially in nations with a history of abuse by authorities.
These are some of the planks of an article published on Thomson Reuters Foundation website by Dr Tony Roberts and Ridwan Oloyede.
Dr Tony Roberts is a research fellow at the Institute of Development Studies, and a member of the African Digital Rights Network.
Ridwan Oloyede is a legal practitioner, research fellow and consultant based in Nigeria, and a member of the African Digital Rights Network.
According to the article, in recent weeks, millions of Nigerians have been barred from making calls after the government instructed telecommunications providers to disconnect their SIM cards because they failed to comply with the government directive to register and link them to their digital ID, known as the National Identity Number (NIN).
Most countries in Africa – 50 nations according to research by Privacy International – and around the world require SIM registration to identify the user.
However, Nigeria has gone further by requiring SIM cards to be registered and linked with a citizen’s digital ID, and therefore with the biometric data that it contains.
Nigeria is not alone in doing this: some 30 countries globally require SIM registration linked to digital ID including biometric data such as fingerprints or facial images.
Such a registration policy excludes many marginalised groups such as some ethnic minorities or migrant workers without ID proof such as a birth certificates, needed to obtain a digital ID.
This locks them out from obtaining a SIM – and therefore from mobile connectivity – and from government services that increasingly require mobile or internet service to access.
Secondly, SIM registration linked to digital ID is causing concerns about privacy rights – not only in Nigeria but also in Uganda, Zambia and Kenya – in the absence of sufficient legal safeguards to protect their data. More so, where there is a historical record of abuse by authorities.
From our research at the African Digital Rights Network, we believe citizens are right to be concerned. Linking digital IDs and mobile SIMs, and linking these with mobile banking apps and other digital services, is the “unholy trinity” of digital surveillance.
When combined with further government or corporate data, this surveillance stack enables governments to track an individual’s real-time movements, transactions, email, voice and social media communications, providing a powerful infrastructure for state surveillance.
Digital identification is becoming a central component of repressive digital surveillance. In the six African countries we studied, we found governments making major investments in surveillance technologies, not only in digital IDs and SIM registration, but also in CCTV, encryption breaking and car licence plate and facial recognition systems.
They also created laws forcing telecom companies to capture and store citizens’ communications for possible state use.
In Nigeria, that fear was exacerbated in February, when it was reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had allowed security agencies to access the NIN database. The government’s argument for mandatory registration of SIM cards linked to digital IDs hinges on security, and allowing governments to track criminality. However, there is no evidence that mandatory SIM registration lowers crime or makes a difference in crime detection.
Everyone wants governments to track the most serious criminals to prevent mass atrocities. But citizens also want governments to respect and protect everyone’s right to privacy. Due to the covert nature of surveillance, and the large power imbalance between the state and the people being watched, there is a clear opportunity to abuse power: our research on surveillance law in Africa shows that most surveillance is conducted on political opponents, business rivals, journalists, civil society activists and low-level criminals. These are all in violation of privacy rights.
In most African countries including Nigeria, it is also in violation of the constitution, international human rights conventions, and domestic laws which protect privacy of communication.
However, branches of the state regularly violate this privacy law, and they do so with impunity, with no accountability for such violations.
To protect citizens against abuses of their data and privacy rights, robust data protection and privacy laws are needed that provide for independent oversight bodies with the independence, resources and power to monitor surveillance practices, and hold governments and corporations accountable for any breaches.
Citizens have a right to legal citizenship and to access government services and entitlements. This should not be contingent on a biometric ID system that locks out the most vulnerable, and enables repressive governments to conduct mass surveillance.
QNET, a leading global lifestyle and wellness direct selling company, has been honored with the prestigious “Direct Selling Company of the Year” award at the recent AfriTECH 4.0 Conference and Awards.
This recognition underscores QNET’s significant contributions to financial inclusion and e-commerce in Africa.
The award was presented to QNET by Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Co-Convener of AfriTech & ATAEx Awards. Onwuegbuchi commended QNET for its unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and driving economic growth across the continent.
He highlighted the company’s innovative approach to direct selling, coupled with its focus on financial literacy and digital innovation.
Biram Fall, Regional Manager for QNET Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed his gratitude for the recognition.
He emphasized QNET’s dedication to innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation in Africa.
Fall highlighted the company’s impact on the Nigerian economy, particularly through its advanced technology and robust e-commerce platform.
“QNET’s participation in this event further solidified its position as a key player in the region’s digital transformation journey.
“We are committed to staying in Nigeria, our biggest market in Sub-Saharan Africa, and contributing to the region’s development,” Fall stated.
During his keynote speech, Fall underscored QNET’s commitment to empowering individuals through knowledge and skill development.
He highlighted the FinGreen financial literacy program, which has already trained over 1,350 young people in Nigeria to make informed financial decisions.
Fall also emphasized the potential of direct selling to drive economic growth in Africa. “Our e-commerce-driven direct-selling model provides opportunities for income generation across more than 100 countries, helping individuals pursue their goals while contributing to community growth,” he explained.
Addressing the challenges of limited banking infrastructure and cash dependency in Africa, Fall stressed the importance of financial inclusion for e-commerce growth.
He called for collaboration to accelerate financial inclusion and e-commerce growth in Africa, fostering a financially inclusive future for the continent.
Martin Ekpeke, Managing Editor of ITPulse, a leading Nigerian online Information and Communications Technology (ICT) news platform, was awarded the prestigious Digital Reporting Excellence Award at the Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards.
The award, presented by Tech Castle Foundation, recognizes Ekpeke’s exceptional coverage of cyber threats, digital privacy, and the evolving online security landscape.
“We are thrilled to honor Martin Ekpeke with the Digital Reporting Excellence Award.
“His insightful reporting has been instrumental in raising awareness about critical digital issues and empowering individuals and organizations to stay informed and protected,” said Chike Onwuegbuchi from Tech Castle Foundation.
Ekpeke expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I am deeply honored to receive this award.
“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire ITPulse team.
“We are committed to delivering high-quality, informative content that empowers our readers to navigate the complex digital world.”
The Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards celebrate individuals, businesses, and institutions driving digital transformation in Africa.
This year’s event brought together tech enthusiasts, regulators, and other key stakeholders in the Nigerian ICT ecosystem.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasized the judiciary’s crucial role in Nigeria’s digital transformation. During the Annual Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications, Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida highlighted the judiciary’s reliance on digital tools to enhance justice delivery.
He stressed the need for special protections for telecommunication infrastructure, which faces disruptions from vandalism, theft, and restricted access.
Maida called for judicial support to implement the Presidential Order designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
This order prohibits unauthorized actions against such infrastructure without a lawful court order.
The judiciary’s role in protecting fundamental rights, enforcing digital contracts, and developing digital jurisprudence is vital for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, commended the NCC’s efforts to protect consumers from unfair practices and emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to the telecommunications sector.
She highlighted concerns such as cybersecurity risks, consumer data protection, and the need for improved dispute resolution frameworks within the digital economy.
The workshop aims to equip judicial officers with the technical expertise required to address emerging legal challenges in telecommunications.
Nigeria’s digital economy has significant growth potential, with projected revenues of $18.30 billion by 2026, expected to create employment opportunities, reduce poverty, and promote innovation.
The NCC is working with key stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of the Presidential Order and to keep Nigeria competitive in the global digital economy.
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