Nigeria House Urges 18-Month Inactive SIM Reassignment Period

Nigeria's House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission to extend the period for reassigning inactive mobile phone numbers to new users from up to one year to 18 months. The resolution, adopted unanimously during Tuesday's plenary, seeks to enhance data protection and shield subscribers from risks including fraud, identity theft, and wrongful criminal accusations linked to recycled numbers.

The motion was sponsored by Billy Osawaru, the lawmaker representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency in Edo State. Osawaru proposed adding a six-month buffer period before dormant SIM cards are reassigned. During this time, telecom operators would be required to publicly announce the numbers slated for reallocation in national newspapers and notify law enforcement agencies once or twice a year.

"The House is aware that the Nigerian Communications Commission guidelines mandate network providers to deactivate and reallocate inactive SIM cards after 180 days and, in some cases, up to one year of dormancy, often without notifying the former subscriber," Osawaru said, referencing the NCC's Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy. He highlighted concerns...