New draft rules would require telecom operators to notify subscribers ahead of SIM churn and report deactivated numbers to a central fraud-risk platform…..
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled fresh regulatory proposals that could significantly change how telecom operators deactivate SIM cards in Nigeria.
Under a draft consultation paper released in February 2026, the Commission is proposing that operators must give subscribers a minimum of 14 days’ notice before deactivating their lines due to inactivity or post-paid churn.
The proposal is contained in a document titled Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform, published on the regulator’s website as part of a broader industry review.
14-Day Mandatory Notice
According to the draft amendments to the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Business Rules, operators would be required to notify post-paid subscribers ahead of any planned churn.
“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 Commission stated.
The notice, it added, must be issued at least 14 days before the final churn date.
A similar requirement is being proposed for prepaid users. Operators would also be mandated to send advance notification via an alternative phone number or email at least two weeks before a prepaid SIM is deactivated.
What the Current Rules Say
At present, Section 2.3.1 of the QoS Business Rules permits operators to deactivate a line if it has not been used for six months for a revenue-generating event. If inactivity continues for another six months, the subscriber risks permanently losing the number except where the inactivity stems from network-related faults.
The proposed amendment does not change the inactivity timeline but introduces a compulsory notification layer aimed at giving subscribers a final window to retain their numbers.
Mandatory Reporting to New Risk Platform
Beyond customer notification, the NCC is also proposing stricter reporting obligations for telecom companies.
Under the draft framework, operators must submit details of all churned numbers to the Telecoms Identity Risks Management System (TIRMS) within seven days of completing the churn process.
The TIRMS is a new regulatory-backed platform designed to curb fraud associated with recycled, swapped, or barred mobile numbers. According to the Commission, the system will provide a uniform, cross-sector approach to safeguarding the integrity and usage of registered Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Numbers (MSISDNs) across Nigeria’s communications network.
The regulator described the platform as a secure mechanism to reduce identity-related risks that arise when old numbers are reassigned without proper safeguards.
Stakeholder Consultation Window Opens
The consultation process, initiated in line with Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, will remain open for 21 days from the date of publication.
Industry stakeholders have until March 20, 2026, to submit comments and recommendations on the proposed changes.
The consultation document, dated February 26, 2026, was signed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Aminu Maida.
If adopted, the reforms could reshape SIM lifecycle management in Nigeria, balancing consumer protection with tighter fraud controls in an increasingly digital economy.
About the Author
