Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has explained why calls made by bandits to victims’ families remain difficult to trace, despite the country’s SIM registration and National Identification Number (NIN) linkage policy.
According to the minister, criminal networks involved in kidnappings do not rely on conventional mobile communication systems, making it ineffective to track them using standard telecom methods.
Bandits Do Not Use Regular Mobile Towers
Speaking on the relationship between digital regulation and national security, Tijani dismissed widespread claims that large numbers of unregistered or improperly registered SIM cards are still active in Nigeria.
He stated that telecommunications operators have already carried out a nationwide clean-up exercise to remove all improperly registered lines from their networks.
However, he explained that the challenge lies elsewhere.
“It’s more technical than that communication,” Tijani said. “There was a special kind of technology that they were using to call. They weren’t using the normal towers. They bounced calls off multiple towers when they leave.”
According to him, this advanced communication method makes it extremely difficult to trace the true origin of calls placed by kidnappers using traditional SIM-tracking systems.
Why Criminals Operate in Remote Areas
The minister noted that bandits deliberately operate in remote and poorly connected locations where conventional telecommunications infrastructure is weak or nonexistent.
He explained that these areas provide criminals with an advantage, as the technology they use does not depend entirely on Nigeria’s standard mobile tower architecture.
This reality, he said, explains why SIM registration alone cannot solve technologically driven crimes such as kidnapping and banditry.
Government Expands Telecom Infrastructure
Tijani revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved increased investment in telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved areas.
According to him, security agencies identified major coverage gaps that criminals have been exploiting, prompting the government to expand telecom tower deployment nationwide.
The aim, he said, is to reduce blind spots and deny criminals the advantage of operating outside network coverage.
Satellite Upgrades Underway
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is upgrading Nigeria’s existing communication satellites to strengthen national surveillance and connectivity.
He explained that satellite coverage will serve as a backup where terrestrial towers are unavailable or compromised, improving both security operations and digital inclusion.
Beyond SIM Registration
Tijani emphasized that tackling modern crime requires more than SIM registration policies.
He said effective solutions must combine:
- Digital infrastructure investment
- Advanced security intelligence
- Satellite technology
- Innovation-driven regulation
According to him, only a coordinated, technology-focused approach can effectively counter criminal networks that rely on sophisticated communication systems.
Conclusion
The minister’s explanation highlights the growing complexity of security challenges in the digital age, as criminals increasingly adopt advanced technology to evade detection.
While SIM-NIN linkage has strengthened Nigeria’s telecom ecosystem, authorities say sustained investment in infrastructure and innovation remains critical to closing the gaps exploited by criminals.
Watch the video below for the full interview.
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