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.

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The NCC revealed this in its 2024 Subscriber/Network Performance Report.

The active subscriber base reduced from 224.7 million in 2023 to 164.9 million by December 2024, representing a 26.6 per cent year-on-year decline.

The commission said the drop was followed the removal of SIMs not linked to verifiable NINs and the rectification of a long-standing subscriber-count discrepancy by a major mobile network operator.

The clean-up was after the FG’s several years of push to link all SIM cards to valid NINs, a policy launched on 4 February 2020 and jointly enforced by the NCC and the National Identity Management Commission. After several deadline extensions between 2023 and 2024, authorities set a final cut-off date of 14 September 2024. From 15 September, any SIM without a verified NIN was automatically deactivated.

According to the report, the teledensity showed the scale of the clean-up reducing from 103.66 per cent in 2023 to 76.08 per cent in 2024.

The commission reported that “internet subscriptions also declined, dropping from 163.8 million to 139.3 million, a loss of 24.6 million users, representing a 14.98 per cent contraction during the period under review.

“Despite the reduction in subscriber numbers, the regulator reported continued progress in coverage expansion. Nigeria achieved over 95 per cent cellular coverage, while broadband penetration rose marginally from 43.71 per cent to 44.43 per cent, supported by widespread access to 3G (89 per cent), 4G (84 per cent) and 5G (13 per cent) networks.”

The report, said the sector was stabilizing according to fresh data, adding that “active telephone subscriptions rose to 173.54 million in September 2025, up from 171.57 million in August, reflecting continued market adjustment after the 2024 clean-up.”

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Affected services include new SIM activations, SIM swaps, SIM replacements, and number portability. The suspension took effect this week and applies to all mobile network operators, following an industry-wide directive to support the NIMC’s system migration.

The NIMC says the temporary halt is necessary to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s digital identity system and to streamline the integration between national identity numbers (NINs) and telecom subscribers’ SIM registration data.

The upgrade is part of broader efforts to curb identity fraud, SIM-related financial crimes, and the misuse of multiple unverified SIM cards that often complicate criminal investigations.

While no firm timeline has been given for when full services will resume, telecom operators have assured subscribers that normal voice, data, and SMS services remain unaffected.

Customers are being urged to stay patient as the upgrade is expected to deliver more secure, reliable identity verification processes once completed.

Consumer protection groups have called on operators and the NIMC to communicate clear updates, especially for customers in rural areas who often rely heavily on agent-assisted SIM services.

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Professor Ali Pantami, the former Minister of Digital Economy and Communication, has reiterated that utilizing the database of National Identification Number (NIN) and SIM registration can help identify perpetrators of insecurity and solve the country’s security challenges.

Speaking on the prevailing insecurity in the country, Pantami recalled that he had written to security agencies several times over the past five years, emphasizing the importance of leveraging the database to combat insecurity.

As Minister, Pantami oversaw the registration of over 100 million people in the database, with 61 million registered in less than three years under his administration, compared to 39 million in 13 years prior.

He expressed disappointment that the database has not been effectively utilized, citing the recent abduction of the monarch of Gobir as an example. Pantami claimed that he had advised security agencies to use the database to identify the location of the abductors, who were using the monarch’s phone.

Pantami also revealed that his life was threatened multiple times due to his insistence on implementing SIM and NIN registration, but he remained resolute, willing to die to be part of the solution to Nigeria’s insecurity.

The former Minister emphasized that leveraging the database can help bring 97% of perpetrators of insecurity to justice.

He also called for timely disbursement of salaries and allowances to security operatives and provisions for their families in case of any eventuality to boost their morale.

Pantami prayed for God’s protection and success for security operatives against insurgents.

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TECHDIGEST – The number of unused SIM lines fell by 12.28 per cent to 95.16 per cent year-on-year in January 2023, the Nigerian Communications Commission’s data has shown.

This is an indication of a growing reliance on telecommunication services in Nigeria as the number of unused lines fell from 108.47 million as of January 2022 to 95.16 million as of January 2023.

This is despite a 5.04 per cent overall increase in the number of SIM lines from 305.62 million to 321.04 million.

While there has been a steady increase in the total number of SIMs in circulation, it has yet to rise past its August 2021 peak of 328.12 million.

The fall of unused lines also coincided with the rise in the number of mobile active subscriptions, hitting 225.88 million in January 2023.

This was a 14.57 per cent year-on-year increase from the 197.15 million active subscriptions that the country had in the corresponding period of 2022.

According to GSMA, increasing mobile connectivity is the predominant form of connectivity in Nigeria.

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Explaining the growth of telecom services recently, the Chief Operating Officer, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Ajibola Olude, said, “One is the continuous adoption and utilisation of telecom services.

“There is also the emergence of the Internet of things in the nation. Smart homes need SIMS for every gadget in them, which is also contributing to the growth in the active subscriber base.”

In an earlier interview, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, explained that unused SIM lines were lines that had owners, and have been registered, but are not in use.

According to him, they are lines that are not contributing to the growth of the national network. He stated, “It is a combination of many things. It could be people having multiple lines that they do not use.

“Traditionally, a lot of people carry more than one phone. Some have an office line; some have private lines but use one more often than the other. Some are in the diaspora, who though they hold Nigerian SIM cards, are not residents here.

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TECHDIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that there are more than 85 million persons enrolled on the National Identification Number database.

The President disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, a year after stating that 54 million Nigerians have now enrolled.

Nigeria had for years struggled to create a credible national database through the NIN without success. However, with the new government’s policy introduced in December 2020 mandating all mobile subscribers to link their SIM with NIN, many Nigerians are being forced to enrol for the national identification number.

The President stated, “We have now enrolled more than 85 million persons into the NIN database. The work continues, to leave behind a credible and robust foundation of digital identity for the security and prosperity of Nigeria.”

The President had earlier noted that “The National Identification Number (NIN) is the foundational digital ID for the country. It will cover one of the weaknesses in our security structure. We will be able to easily identify all Nigerians, including the crooks in our midst.

“Both Nigerian citizens and legal residents are expected to obtain the NIN. It will provide access to government services, and will give government useful insights that will enable us utilize scarce resources in a more efficient way.”

Nairametrics research revealed that Lagos State has so far recorded the highest number of enrolments in the country with 9.73 million Nigerians captured in the State. This was followed by Kano State, which recorded 7.3 million registered NIN.

Other states that made the top ten in terms of the number of enrolments include Kaduna with 5 million, Ogun with 3.5 million, Oyo with 3.4 million, FCT with 3 million, Katsina with 2.8 million, Rivers with 2.6 million, Delta with 2.3 million, and Niger with 2.2 million.

NIMC data reveals that 48 million, representing 56% of Nigerians so far captured in the NIN database are male, while 37.52 million, representing 44% are female as enrollment had risen to rose to 85.59 million as of July 7, 2022.

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TECHDIGEST –  The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has insisted that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), their licensed agents and telecom subscribers must comply with the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration, activation and replacement procedures as set out in the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Registration.

Speaking at the 6th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR), a radio-based interactive consumer outreach programme of the Commission, the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, Efosa Idehen, said that operators are to ensure strict compliance when registering their customers, the SIM card owners to have the responsibility to be vigilant to ensure that they are properly captured either for new SIM activation or SIM replacement.

“As the telecom regulator in Nigeria, our role is to enforce compliance with the extant SIM activation and replacement procedures in order to avoid problems that may arise in the event of stolen, lost, damaged SIMs or the need to upgrade SIM cards,” he said.

While asserting that compliance with the stipulated procedures for SIM replacement will forestall identity theft, fraudulent SIM swap and other deceitful activities that can be carried out with a SIM card, Idehen noted that SIM registration is significant to personal and national security.

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He informed the listeners that, in accordance with the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Registration, all SIM replacements shall be undertaken by the service providers or their licensed agents in a controlled environment to eliminate the recurrent complaints of inconclusive SIM replacement procedures. He said such experiences have resulted in subscribers being defrauded by cyber fraudsters.

Idehen also advised telecom consumers to be wary of fake SIM registration agents purporting to be working for MNOs with the intent to defraud unsuspecting subscribers. He said one of the antics of such agents is to ask for the one-time password (OTP) forwarded to the consumer for activation of the SIM, especially after the SIM replacement process has been done. He warned telecom consumers to be wary of such scams.

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TECH DIGEST – The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to October 31, 2021.

TechDigest reports that the decision to extend the deadline was made following a request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions, diaspora and address low enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.

In a joint statement signed by Nigerian Communications Commission Director, Public Affairs Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and Head, Corporate Communications National Identity Management Commission, Mr Kayode Adegoke, on Sunday, it said the decision also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicated significant progress, hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.

TechDigest recalls that the Federal Government had earlier extended the deadline for the National Identification Number -Subscriber Identity Module (NIN-SIM) data verification to July 26, 2021.

‘’As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM, ‘’said the statement.

‘’The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.’’

‘’The NIN-SIM linkage also makes it easier for the security agencies to carry out their statutory duties and the relevant parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are supporting them as required.’’

The statement said there are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, every citizen, legal resident, and Nigerian citizen living in the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs.

‘’The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, PhD, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, on behalf of the Federal Government, commends the Kano State government and other states that have made NINs a key requirement for school enrolments and access to other important services.’’

According to the statement, the Federal Government is also excited at the news that the use of NIN in the process of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam significantly reduced the challenge of exam malpractice.

‘’The Minister, on behalf of the Federal Government, appreciates Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.’’

‘’Similarly, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Azeez, urge citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the October 31 deadline.’’

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TECH DIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami following his efforts towards galvanizing industry stakeholders to ensure the National Identification Number (NIN) enrollments remain on course.
The President also called on Nigerians to fully participate in the ongoing synchronization of National Identification Number (NIN) with SIM cards across the country as it will provide a digital framework for improving security and strengthening of the economy.

He assured that his administration was fully committed to the safety of Nigerians and linking the SIM to NIN will significantly enhance security, aid in national planning and budget preparations, as reports show that twelve million registrations were recorded in the past six months.

Launching the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in Nigerian Telecoms Sector and Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Cards registration, the President said proper identification of all Nigerians and legal residents in the country and ability to conveniently access a data base will provide impetus for more effective planning and security oversight.

“The NIN will cover one of the weaknesses in our security structure. We will be able to easily identify and know the personality of Nigerians. We will identify people easily, including the crooks,’’ he said.

The President said the launch of the Revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration was quite timely and will support efforts to enhance security and develop the economy.

“The National Identification Number is the foundational digital ID for the country; both Nigerian citizens and legal residents are expected to obtain the NIN. It will provide access to government services and will give government useful insights that will enable us to utilize scarce resources in a more efficient way,’’ he added.

President Buhari noted that the first National SIM Policy was launched in February 2020, and the revised policies were in full alignment with the objectives of the administration in the areas of economic development, security and anti-corruption.

“The Digital Economy sector has made significant progress and recorded a number of unprecedented achievements since we expanded the mandate of the Ministry of Communications to include the digital economy mandate.

“The Information and Communications Technology sector was the fastest growing sector in both the fourth quarter of 2020 and the entire year 2020, based on the Report by the National Bureau of Statistics.

“The sector’s 14.70 per cent double digit growth rate played a principal role in supporting our country to exit the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth rate of the sector exceeded four times the next fastest growing sector of Q4 2020, ICT Sector which had a growth rate of 3.42 per cent. This is truly commendable,’’ the President added.

President Buhari said the digital economy sector provided online options for activities that were hitherto restricted to offline channels, while minimizing the disruption to activities of both public and private sectors, and reducing cost of meetings.

Accordingly, he said the National Policy for Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector was in line with the administration’s commitment towards ensuring that Nigerians become active participants in the different sectors of the economy, including the telecommunications sector.

“The Federal Government embraced institutionalizing online meetings through the approval of the National Policy on Virtual Engagements in Federal Public Institutions. As a result of this, we now have virtual Federal Executive Council, virtual Council of State and virtual National Economic Council meetings, among others, even though this development was triggered by COVID-19,’’ he said.

“As a country, our desire to produce what we eat, and consume what we produce is not limited to the literal meaning; rather we want to work towards being self-sufficient in every sector of the economy. For the telecom sector, we want Nigerians to play a major role in the design and manufacture of devices, in meeting the manpower requirements and in becoming an active part of the telecommunications ecosystem of the country.

“The policy aims to achieve this and I have earlier directed the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, to develop the structure for its implementation and forward this to the Nigerian Communications Commission to implement. We are confident that the execution of the Policy will further enhance our economy and lead to the creation of jobs,’’ the President noted.

President Buhari said there had been many futile attempts to promote the use of digital identity in the past: “Previous attempts have been unsuccessful due to a number of reasons, including sabotage. Our focused approach shows that this administration is dedicated to ensuring that we derive the benefits of a secure and robust digital identity system.’’

The President assured that his administration was fully committed to the safety of Nigerians and linking the SIM to NIN will significantly enhance security, aid in national planning and budget preparations.

In his remarks, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy appreciated the President for the continuous support to the telecoms sector, including regulators and operators, thanking him for the keen interest in ensuring that the security sector gets a boost with more information on Nigerians and legal residents.

The minister noted that the NIN Registration had recorded a huge success with 54 million Nigerians already captured in the process, adding, “within six months over 12 million enrolled.’’

Dr Pantami said it was now possible to have virtual ID cards that can be used in various transactions, assuring that the NIN and Sim card registration for Nigerians and legal residents will cover 99.9 per cent.

He said the buoyancy of the telecoms sector had given Nigeria many leadership roles in international organisations, listing the impact on education, training, health and welfare of many, including the establishment of 600 computer centres, and a world class sim card manufacturing company in the country.

The post Buhari Commends Pantami As 12 million Enroll For NIN In Six Months appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned telecom consumers not to share their cell phones, National Identity Number (NIN), and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards with others.

Mr Efeosa Edehen, Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, said on Thursday at a consumer conversation event organised by the commission in Abuja that defaulters would be held liable for any crime committed with the SIM cards.

The conversation with the theme “Know Your Rights and Obligations as a Telecom Consumer” was aimed at enlightening consumers on the dangers of shearing such vital information.

He warned that Nigerians must be extremely careful with their devices so they do not fall into the hands of wrong people who would use them to commit crime and later be traced to the owners of the devices, NIN or SIM cards.

Edehen cautioned Nigerians not to help any of the consumers to link their SIM cards with their NIN or give phones to other people to make calls, send texts, or use social media.

“Your phone carries your identity and therefore should be protected and always be with you.

“Note that you will be responsible for whatever wrong/offense someone else committed while using your SIM card(s). So, be very vigilant.

“As a citizen, it is very important and necessary to register for National Identity Number (NIN) and to ensure your NIN is linked to your SIM cards,” he said.

Speaking further he said Consumers had the right to receive clear and complete terms and conditions for service agreement and disclosures of price for goods and services.

He added that they also had the right to affirmatively accept all terms and conditions before being charged for services.

“They have the right to be protected against fraudulent, misleading and deceitful information, advertisement or labelling.”

According to him, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003) and Consumer Code of Practice and Regulations 2007 (CCPR 2007) ensure that service Providers deal reasonably with the consumers by providing them with information on their service.

He said that such information should be complete, accurate, and up to date in simple and clear language.

“The Commission plays a vital role in National Security and works very closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Security Agencies and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“It also works with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other relevant bodies at ensuring security in the use of the telecom network.’’

Edehen also used the opportunity to enlighten parents and guardians on how to teach their children the proper use of internet.

“Ask how your children use the internet,’’ he advised parents and urged them to make their children show them some of their favorite sites and discuss with them.

“Make them aware that there are things on the internet, which may upset them and that they can always talk to you, their parents, or any trusted adult within.

“Make sure your children realize that they should never give out personal details such as names, address, school names, and telephone numbers to online friends they do not know,” he said.

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