Bandits were not using normal towers. They bounce calls off multiple towers — Minister of Communication, Bosun Tijani

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has dismissed claims that k+dnappers and criminals continue to operate with unregistered or fra¥dulent registered SIM cards, despite Nigeria’s NIN-SIM linkage policy.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye, Tijani said he was unaware of any evidence proving that unregistered SIMs still exist within the telecoms system.

“I don’t know where that information is coming from or who has the evidence that there are people using SIMs that are not registered,” the minister said, noting that Nigeria’s biometric systems, including BVN and NIN, should ordinarily make criminal tracking possible.

According to Tijani, the issue of criminal communication is far more technical than commonly portrayed. He explained that telecom operators had previously conducted a nationwide SIM-cleanup exercise to eliminate improperly registered lines.

He revealed that security agencies discovered criminals were using specialised technology to make calls without relying on conventional telecom towers. “They were not using normal towers. They bounce calls off multiple towers, and when they leave an area, the signal disappears,” he said.

Tijani explained that this discovery informed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for government investment in telecom infrastructure, particularly in underserved and unconnected areas where criminals often operate.

The minister added that Nigeria is upgrading its two communication satellites to ensure coverage in areas where terrestrial towers are ineffective. 

He noted that Nigeria remains the only country in West Africa with communication satellites and is expanding its fibre and satellite capabilities to improve national security and digital inclusion.