Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the SIM reallocation period from 180 days to 18 months, citing rising concerns about fraud and identity theft. The move aims to strengthen data protection and prevent innocent Nigerians from becoming victims of crimes linked to recycled phone numbers. Lawmakers argue that the current timeline is too short and exposes users to avoidable risks.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Billy Osawaru during plenary on Tuesday. Under the existing framework, telecom operators are allowed to deactivate and reassign inactive SIM cards after six months, and in some cases up to one year. However, legislators believe this policy has created loopholes that can be exploited for criminal activities.
Lawmakers highlighted that many phone numbers remain linked to sensitive personal identifiers such as Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identity Numbers (NIN). This creates a dangerous situation where new users of recycled numbers may unknowingly inherit access points tied to previous owners. As a result, cases of identity theft, financial fraud, and wrongful accusations have reportedly increased, leaving victims embarrassed, extorted, or even investigated for crimes they did not commit.
The House also referenced the Data Protection Act 2023, which establishes a legal framework for safeguarding personal data and created the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). While telecom operators defend SIM recycling as necessary for operational efficiency, lawmakers stressed that commercial interests should not outweigh subscriber protection. They warned that weak safeguards in the current system could lead to serious data breaches and security challenges.
To address these concerns, the House proposed extending the SIM reallocation period to 18 months and introducing a six-month public notification window. During this period, inactive numbers would be published in national newspapers and shared with security agencies, including the police, to improve transparency and aid investigations. Committees on Communications and Commerce have also been mandated to engage the NCC and other stakeholders, with a report expected within four weeks to guide further legislative action.
source: business day