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Barely ten days after the publication of an investigative story into the risks associated with recycled SIM card numbers, the Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC) directed telecoms operators in the country to give subscribers at least 14 days notice before deactivating their SIM cards over inactivity.
The report done by Radio Nigeria Harmony FM’s Rasheedat Oladotun-Iliyas, documented how recycled phone numbers, which are often linked to sensitive digital identities such as Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), National Identification Numbers (NIN), banking profiles, social media accounts, and other digital services, can make previous owners and the new users vulnerable to privacy breaches, financial fraud, mistaken identity and wrongful criminal investigations, when reassigned without adequate safeguards.
The NCC’s document sent to the telecom operators requires them to reach a subscriber through an alternative telephone number or email address before recycling the dormant number. This is against previous practice where subscribers only find out that their inactive mobile numbers had been reassigned to new users at the point of reactivation.
The regulator said the measure is intended to reduce fraud, strengthen consumer protection and minimise identity risks associated with SIM reassignment.
This move demonstrates that the issue received regulatory attention and aligns closely with the concerns raised in the report.
In the document titled “Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform,” and signed by the NCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Aminu Maida, the Commission said the policy would strengthen consumer protection as well as improve digital identity security.
The development forms part of broader reforms linked to the rollout of the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), a regulatory platform designed to reduce fraud associated with recycled or illegally swapped phone numbers.
The NCC said the platform will provide a unified verification framework across sectors to protect the integrity of registered mobile numbers.
Beyond the 14-day notice rule, the NCC also proposed that telecom operators must submit details of all churned numbers to TIRMS within seven days after deactivation. The measure is expected to strengthen regulatory monitoring and improve accountability within the industry.
Industry observers say the reforms could help reduce identity fraud risks while giving subscribers more time to react to deactivation notices, especially in cases of accidental inactivity.
Telecom operators and digital policy analysts have also argued that merely delaying SIM reassignment is not sufficient. Industry commentator Elvis Eromosele notes that the real challenge lies in the absence of a coordinated identity management framework linking telecom operators, financial institutions and government agencies.
According to him, stronger data governance, interoperability, and cross-sector collaboration are needed to prevent identity theft and wrongful attribution after numbers are recycled.
The House of Representatives similarly recognised the risks highlighted by the investigative report when it urged the NCC to extend the SIM reallocation period to eighteen months. Within that period, the telecom operators are required to publicise the numbers to be reassigned and also notify security agencies once or twice a year.
Lawmakers warned that premature reassignment of phone numbers could expose innocent citizens to identity theft, financial fraud and wrongful criminal allegations, particularly where the numbers remain linked to sensitive digital identities such as BVN and NIN.
This impact demonstrates how accountability journalism can identify emerging weaknesses in digital public infrastructure and contribute to evidence-based regulatory reforms aimed at improving digital trust and protecting citizens.
