The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed a new rule that will require telecom companies to give customers at least 14 days’ notice before deactivating their SIM cards due to inactivity or post-paid churn.
This proposal is contained in a consultation paper titled Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform, published in February 2026 on the commission’s website.
According to the proposed changes to the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Business Rules, telecom operators must notify post-paid subscribers before disconnecting their lines. The notice must be sent through another phone number or by email at least 14 days before the line is finally disconnected.
The same rule will apply to prepaid subscribers. Operators must also give them at least 14 days’ notice before their SIM cards are deactivated.
Under the current rules, a SIM card can be deactivated if it has not been used for six months for any revenue-generating activity. If the line remains inactive for another six months, the subscriber may permanently lose the number, except in cases caused by network problems.
The NCC also proposed that telecom operators must submit details of all disconnected numbers to the new Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) within seven days after the disconnection process is completed.
The TIRMS is a secure, government-backed platform designed to prevent fraud linked to recycled, swapped, or barred mobile numbers in Nigeria. It aims to ensure proper management and protection of registered phone numbers across all sectors.
The public consultation process, in line with Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, will remain open for 21 days from the date of publication. Stakeholders are expected to submit their comments on or before March 20, 2026.
The document was signed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida.
