Nigerian Government Admits Difficulty In Tracking SIMs Used By Kidnappers Despite NIN Registration

The Nigerian government has admitted that security agencies face major technical hurdles in tracking SIM cards allegedly used by kidnappers and other criminal networks, despite years of mandatory SIM registration and National Identification Number (NIN) linkage.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Friday while explaining government efforts to combat insecurity through the telecommunications sector.

Speaking on Channels Television, Tijani said the challenge was “far more technical” than many Nigerians realise, noting that criminal gangs have adapted to existing surveillance measures by deploying advanced communication techniques that exploit poor network coverage.

The telecom sector has remained under intense scrutiny since 2020, when the Federal Government enforced compulsory NIN–SIM linkage as part of efforts to curb fraud, anonymous communication and crimes linked to unregistered phone lines.

However, Tijani acknowledged growing public concern over persistent cases of kidnapping and ransom negotiations allegedly conducted through unregistered or untraceable SIM cards.

“There was an exercise conducted by the telcos to clean out all SIMs. The reason the President pushed us to invest in towers in those areas was because we realised there was a special type of technology criminals were using to make calls,” he said.

According to the minister, many criminal groups no longer rely on conventional telecom towers but instead route calls across multiple towers, a tactic that becomes more effective in remote, underserved and poorly connected locations.

“They were not using the normal towers; they bounce calls off multiple towers. That’s why they enjoy living in areas that are unconnected,” Tijani added.

To address what he described as “connectivity vulnerabilities” aiding criminal operations, the minister said the government is pursuing a multi-layered strategy involving satellite upgrades, fibre-optic expansion and massive deployment of telecom infrastructure in rural areas.

Tijani said Nigeria is currently the only country in West Africa operating its own communications satellites, a capacity the government now plans to strengthen.

“This is why we are upgrading our two satellites, so that if our towers are not working, our satellites will work,” he said.

The minister also confirmed that the Federal Government has approved the deployment of 4,000 new telecom towers across underserved rural communities, areas he said are often exploited by kidnappers and illegal SIM operators.

According to him, the project—approved by the Federal Executive Council last Wednesday—will be executed in collaboration with Chinese technology giant Huawei.

“It is why we are investing in fibre. It is why next year this project will start. We are doing it with Huawei—4,000 towers in rural areas,” Tijani said.

He added that the initiative is expected to reduce coverage blackspots, boost rural commerce and enhance security surveillance in areas currently lacking reliable network access.

While fibre expansion and tower deployment are already underway, Tijani said satellite upgrades would take longer, describing them as “the third leg” of the government’s broader connectivity plan.

“That one will take longer than the other two. The other two are well in progress,” he said.(SaharaReporters)