NCC to Protect Subscribers with 14-Day SIM Deactivation Notice | ClipTV Online

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed that Telecom operators must give subscribers some time before deactivation. NCC noted that a minimum of 14 days’ notice before deactivating their SIM cards over inactivity or post-paid churn.

This proposed term is contained in a consultation paper titled Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform (TIRMS). This proposal is dated February 2026 and was published on the Commission’s website.

Under the proposed amendments to the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Business Rules, the NCC stated that prior to the churning of a post-paid line, an operator must notify the affected subscriber through an alternative phone line or email regarding the pending deactivation.

“This notification shall be sent at least 14 days before the final date for the churn of the number,” the Commission stated.

A similar provision was proposed for prepaid subscribers. NCC further reiterated that operators must notify prepaid users through alternative contact channels at least 14 days before the final churn date, under Section 2.3.1 of the QoS Business Rules, a subscriber’s line may be deactivated if it has not been used for a revenue-generating event within six months.If

If the inactivity persists for another six months, the subscriber may lose the number. Further stating that except in the cases of network-related faults.

Beyond subscriber notification, NCC also proposed that operators should submit details of all churned numbers to the Telecoms Identity Risks Management System within seven days of completing the churn process.

According to the document, “An Operator shall submit details of all churn numbers to the Telecoms Identity Risks Management System (TIRMS) within seven days of completion of the churn process.”

The proposed changes form part of a broader regulatory review linked to the rollout of TIRMS, a cross-sector platform designed to curb fraud associated with recycled, swapped, and barred Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Numbers (MSISDNs).

In the background section of the consultation paper, the Commission described TIRMS as “a secure, regulatory-backed platform that helps prevent fraud stemming from churned, swapped, barred Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Numbers in Nigeria.”

It added that the platform would provide a uniform framework across sectors to ensure the integrity and proper utilisation of registered MSISDNs on Nigeria’s communications network.
NCC said the consultation process is being conducted in line with Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

Stakeholders have 21 days from the date of publication to submit comments, with the deadline set for March 20, 2026.Theocument

The document, dated February 26, 2026, was signed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida.