NCC Proposes 14-Day Notice Before SIM Deactivation

The Nigerian Communications Commission has proposed a new regulation that would require telecom operators to give subscribers a minimum of 14 days’ notice before deactivating their 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. The initiative forms part of broader regulatory reforms linked to the rollout of the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System.

Under the proposed amendments to the Quality-of-Service Business Rules, the commission stated that before churning a post-paid line, an operator must notify the affected subscriber through an alternative phone number or email, informing them of the pending deactivation. The notice must be sent at least 14 days before the final date for the churn of the number.

A similar provision was outlined for prepaid subscribers. The commission said operators must also notify prepaid users through an alternative line or email at least 14 days before the final churn date, ensuring that customers are adequately informed ahead of any disconnection.

Currently, Section 2.3.1 of the QoS Business Rules allows a subscriber line to be deactivated if it has not been used for a Revenue Generating Event within six months. If inactivity continues for another six months, the subscriber risks losing the number entirely, except in cases involving network-related faults.

In addition to the notification requirement, the commission proposed that operators must submit details of all churned numbers to the Telecoms Identity Risks Management System within seven days after completing the churn process.

The proposed amendments are tied to the introduction of the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System, described as a secure, regulatory-backed platform aimed at preventing fraud linked to recycled, swapped, and barred mobile numbers. According to the commission, the system will create a uniform approach across sectors regarding the integrity and use of registered mobile numbers on Nigeria’s communications network.

The consultation process, conducted 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 dated February 26, 2026, and signed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida.