The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed a new regulatory measure requiring telecommunications operators to provide subscribers with a minimum of 14 days’ notice before deactivating SIM cards due to inactivity or post-paid churn.
The proposal is contained in a consultation paper titled “Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform”, dated February 2026 and published on the Commission’s website.
Under the proposed amendments to the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Business Rules, the Commission stated that prior to churning a post-paid line, operators must notify affected subscribers through an alternative phone number or email address regarding the impending deactivation of their line. The notification must be issued at least 14 days before the final date of churn.
A similar requirement has been proposed for prepaid subscribers. Operators would be mandated to notify affected customers via an alternative line or email, with the same minimum 14-day notice period before the number is churned.
Currently, Section 2.3.1 of the QoS Business Rules provides that a subscriber’s line may be deactivated if it has not been used for a Revenue Generating Event within six months. If the inactivity continues for an additional six months, the subscriber risks losing the number entirely, except in cases involving network-related faults.
In addition to the notification requirement, the NCC has proposed that operators submit churn-related data to the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS). Specifically, operators would be required to forward details of all churned numbers to TIRMS within seven days of completing the churn process.
The proposed amendments are part of a broader regulatory framework linked to the rollout of the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System — a secure, cross-sector platform designed to curb fraud associated with recycled, swapped, and barred Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Numbers (MSISDNs).
According to the Commission, TIRMS will provide a uniform and regulatory-backed approach to safeguarding the integrity and utilisation of registered mobile numbers across Nigeria’s communications network.
The 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 invited to submit their comments on or before March 20, 2026.
The consultation document was dated February 26, 2026, and signed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Aminu Maida.
The NCC reiterated its commitment to strengthening consumer protection, enhancing transparency, and safeguarding the telecommunications ecosystem against identity-related risks and fraud.
