NCC offers a 14 day notice before deactivating the SIM

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed a minimum 14-day notice to telecoms subscribers before their SIM cards are deactivated due to inactivity or postpayment abandonment.

The recommendation is part of a consultation document entitled Stakeholder Consultation Process for the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management Platform, dated February 2026 and published on the NCC website.

Under proposed changes to the company’s Quality of Service (QoS) rules, operators would be required to notify affected subscribers via an alternative phone line or email before changing their numbers.

“This notification must be sent at least 14 days before the final date for abandoning the number,” the document reads.

The same rules would apply to prepaid lines. Currently, under Section 2.3.1 of the QoS Business Rules, subscriber lines can be deactivated if unused for six months, with permanent loss of number after a further six months of inactivity, except in the case of network-related failures.

The NCC also highlighted that operators must submit churn data to the new Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) within seven days of completing the churn process.

The platform aims to prevent fraud related to recycled, swapped or blocked mobile numbers.

“In line with Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, this consultation process will last 21 days, allowing interested parties to submit feedback by 20 March 2026,” the document adds.

Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, signed the document, underscoring the importance of TIRMS in ensuring the integrity and correct use of registered mobile numbers across Nigeria.

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