NEWS
FG Admits Technical Barriers in Tracking Kidnappers’ SIM Cards, Unveils Multi-Layered Telecom Strategy to Close Security Gaps
The Federal Government has acknowledged that Nigeria’s security agencies are confronted with deep-rooted technical challenges in tracking SIM cards allegedly used by kidnappers and other criminal networks, despite years of mandatory SIM registration and the linkage of phone lines to the National Identification Number (NIN).
This admission was made on Friday by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, as he outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to combat insecurity through reforms and investments in the telecommunications sector.
Speaking in an interview, Tijani explained that the problem is “far more technical” than widely perceived, noting that criminal networks have evolved beyond conventional communication patterns and have adopted more sophisticated methods, particularly in areas with weak or nonexistent network coverage.
The telecommunications sector has remained under intense public and regulatory scrutiny since 2020, when the Federal Government enforced compulsory NIN–SIM linkage as a key strategy to curb fraud, anonymous communication and crimes linked to unregistered phone lines. The policy was widely seen as a decisive step toward strengthening national security.
However, persistent cases of kidnapping and ransom negotiations allegedly carried out through unregistered or difficult-to-trace SIM cards have continued to raise public concern. Addressing these concerns, Tijani revealed that although telecom operators had previously conducted nationwide exercises to eliminate unregistered SIM cards, new findings showed that criminal groups had shifted tactics.
“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 networks no longer depend on conventional telecom infrastructure. Instead, they deploy advanced techniques that allow them to route calls through multiple towers, making tracking extremely difficult, especially in remote 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 said.
To counter what he described as connectivity gaps that have inadvertently aided criminal activities, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government is implementing a comprehensive, multi-layered connectivity strategy. This approach combines satellite upgrades, fibre-optic expansion and the large-scale deployment of telecom infrastructure in rural and underserved communities.
Tijani noted that Nigeria currently stands as the only country in West Africa operating its own communications satellites, a strategic advantage the government intends to strengthen to enhance national security and communication resilience.
“This is why we are upgrading our two satellites, so that if our towers are not working, our satellites will work,” he said.
In a major boost to rural connectivity, the minister confirmed that the Federal Government has approved the deployment of 4,000 new telecom towers across underserved rural areas, locations that have often been exploited by kidnappers and illegal SIM operators. He said the approval was granted by the Federal Executive Council last Wednesday.
The project, he disclosed, will be executed in partnership with Chinese technology firm Huawei and is expected to commence next year.
“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.
According to the minister, the deployment of the new towers will significantly reduce network blind spots, stimulate economic activities in rural communities and enhance security surveillance in areas currently lacking reliable connectivity.
While fibre expansion and tower deployment are already at advanced stages, Tijani explained that satellite upgrades form the third phase of the government’s connectivity strategy and would take more time to complete.
“That one will take longer than the other two. The other two are well in progress,” he said.
The Federal Government maintains that these combined efforts will not only strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure but also deny criminal networks the technological advantage they currently exploit in unconnected and underserved regions.