The Nigerian government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has introduced new rules that will allow phone numbers that remain inactive for one year to be reassigned to other users.
The updated Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy (TIRMP) is expected to launch before the end of the year and aims to improve how telecom operators manage dormant lines.
The policy change comes as part of efforts to better handle mobile numbers that are no longer in use.
Under the new rules, a mobile line that has not recorded any activity that generates income—such as calls, text messages, data usage, or USSD sessions—for 180 days will be considered inactive.
If this inactivity continues for another 180 days, making it 360 days in total, the line will be eligible for reassignment.
This move will allow mobile operators to take back the inactive numbers and release them to new users.
According to NCC, these operators originally lease numbering resources from the commission and have the right to recycle them if they remain unused beyond the allowed period.
The NCC is also building a platform that will share information about numbers that are either recycled or linked to fraudulent activities.
This platform, developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), security agencies, and other stakeholders, is currently being tested.
Once fully launched, it will allow relevant bodies across sectors to trace the history of a number and respond more effectively to risks, especially in financial and digital spaces.
NCC says this step will not only help reduce fraud but also protect consumers whose former numbers may still be connected to digital services like banking apps or email accounts.
The commission noted that numbering resources are limited due to their structured format, and this recycling process is necessary to manage the shortage while keeping users safe.
Leave a Reply