NCC Proposes Mandatory 14-Day Notice for SIM Deactivation
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed a regulatory amendment requiring telecom operators to provide subscribers with a minimum of 14 days’ notice before deactivating SIM cards due to inactivity or post-paid churn.
This move is part of the Commission’s broader effort to enhance consumer protection and identity management within the telecoms sector.
The proposal is detailed in a consultation paper titled Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform, published in February 2026. This document outlines significant updates to the existing Quality-of-Service (QoS) Business Rules, specifically targeting how and when operators can disconnect mobile numbers.
Regarding post-paid lines, the NCC stated: “Prior to churning of a post-paid line, the Operator shall send a notification to the affected subscriber through an alternative line or an email on the pending churning of his line.” The directive further emphasizes that “this notification shall be sent at least 14 days before the final date for the churn of the number.”
The Commission has applied a similar logic to prepaid subscribers to ensure consistency. It clarified that, “Prior to churning of a pre-paid line, the Operator shall send a notification to the affected subscriber through an alternative line or an email on the pending churning of his line,” reiterating the 14-day window for notification before the final disconnection.
Currently, under Section 2.3.1 of the QoS Business Rules, a line may be deactivated if it has not been used for a “Revenue Generating Event” within six months. If inactivity continues for an additional six months, the subscriber risks losing the number entirely. The proposed rules aim to introduce a more transparent “warning” stage before the final churn occurs.
Beyond consumer alerts, the NCC is also mandating stricter data reporting. According to the proposal, operators must submit details of all churned numbers to the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) within seven days of completing the churn process, ensuring that the regulator maintains a real-time record of recycled or barred lines.
The introduction of these rules is tied to the rollout of the TIRMS, a secure, regulatory-backed platform designed to curb fraud. The NCC explained that the platform will “provide a uniform approach for all sectors in relation to the integrity and utilisation of registered MSISDNs” on the Nigerian communications network, effectively tackling fraud linked to recycled, swapped, and barred numbers.
The consultation process is now open in accordance with Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. The Commission is inviting stakeholders to submit their comments regarding these proposed changes on or before March 20, 2026, marking a critical step toward finalizing the new policy.