The Nigerian Communications Commission has proposed a mandatory 14 day notification period before telecommunications operators can deactivate or churn inactive SIM cards, in a move aimed at strengthening consumer protection and sanitising Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. The proposal, contained in a consultation paper titled “Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform,” signals a review of existing Quality of Service Business Rules to prevent abrupt disconnections without prior warning.
Under the current framework, operators are permitted to deactivate a line that fails to generate revenue for six months, with numbers typically recycled after an additional six months of inactivity. The new amendment would require telcos to notify affected subscribers at least 14 days before final deactivation through alternative contact channels such as another mobile line or email. Operators would also be mandated to submit details of churned numbers to a newly proposed Telecoms Identity Risk Management System within seven days of deactivation.
The initiative is being driven under the leadership of the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, and centres on the creation of the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System, a secure regulatory platform designed to address fraud linked to recycled, swapped or barred Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Numbers. By establishing a centralised database for churned numbers, the Commission intends to provide a uniform verification framework for sectors such as banking and fintech, thereby reducing identity theft and unauthorised access to financial accounts tied to recycled SIM cards.
The Commission has opened the proposal for stakeholder engagement in line with Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, inviting comments from industry players and the public until March 20, 2026. If adopted, the framework is expected to introduce an additional layer of Know Your Customer validation across Nigeria’s digital services landscape, reinforcing trust and accountability in the country’s expanding digital economy.