The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed a new rule requiring telecom operators to issue a minimum 14-day notice to subscribers before deactivating SIM cards due to inactivity or postpaid churn.
The proposal forms part of broader reforms linked to the rollout of the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), according to a consultation paper titled Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risk Management Platform, dated February 2026.
Under the proposed amendment to the Quality of Service (QoS) Business Rules, operators must notify affected subscribers through an alternative phone line or email before churning a number. The notice must be issued at least 14 days before the final date of deactivation.
The same provision would apply to both postpaid and prepaid subscribers.
Currently, Section 2.3.1 of the QoS Business Rules allows a line to be deactivated if it has not generated revenue for six months. If inactivity continues for another six months, the number may be permanently recycled, except in cases involving network-related faults.
The proposed changes do not alter the six-month inactivity threshold but introduce mandatory advance notification before final churn.
In addition, the NCC is proposing stricter reporting requirements. Operators would be required to submit details of all churned numbers to TIRMS within seven days of completing the process.
The Commission described TIRMS as a secure regulatory platform designed to prevent fraud linked to churned, swapped or barred mobile numbers. The system aims to provide cross-sector verification of mobile number integrity and is expected to support agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria in tackling identity-related fraud.
The consultation, initiated under Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, will remain open for 21 days, with submissions due by March 20, 2026. The document was signed by NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida.
If adopted, the reforms would formalise advance SIM churn notifications and expand data-sharing measures to reduce fraud risks associated with recycled numbers.
