The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed that telecom operators provide subscribers with at least 14 days’ notice before deactivating SIM cards due to inactivity or postpaid churn. The move, outlined in a February 2026 consultation paper titled Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform, aims to enhance transparency and protect mobile users across Nigeria.
Under the proposed changes to the Quality-of-Service Business Rules, postpaid subscribers facing deactivation must receive a notification via an alternative line or email at least 14 days before their line is churned. The same requirement applies to prepaid users, ensuring all subscribers are adequately informed before losing access to their numbers. Currently, lines can be deactivated if inactive for six months, with a further six months of inactivity risking permanent loss of the number.
The NCC also plans to require telecom operators to submit churn data to the new Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) within seven days of completing the churn process. TIRMS is a regulatory-backed platform designed to prevent fraud associated with recycled, swapped, or barred mobile numbers, providing a uniform approach to protecting mobile users’ data across Nigeria.
Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, emphasized that the TIRMS platform will strengthen the integrity of mobile numbers on the Nigerian communications network. By creating a centralized system for managing churned numbers, the commission hopes to curb the increasing risk of fraud and enhance overall subscriber confidence in telecom services.
The public consultation for these proposed regulations is open for 21 days from the paper’s publication on the NCC website, ending on March 20, 2026. Stakeholders, including telecom operators and consumer advocacy groups, are encouraged to submit feedback as part of the review process, ensuring that the final regulations reflect both industry practices and subscriber protection needs.
source: punch