The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed new regulations requiring telecom operators to provide subscribers with at least 14 days’ advance notice before deactivating or churning any mobile line due to inactivity or non-payment.
The requirement is outlined in a February 2026 consultation paper titled *Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform*, published on the NCC website. The draft amendments to the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Business Rules aim to enhance consumer protection and reduce abrupt service disruptions.
For post-paid subscribers, the NCC stated: “Prior to churning of a post-paid line, the operator shall send a notification to the affected subscriber through an alternative line or an email on the pending churning of his line… This notification shall be sent at least 14 days before the final date for the churn of the number.”
A parallel provision applies to prepaid lines, with the same 14-day notice period mandated via alternative line or email.
Under existing QoS rules (Section 2.3.1), a line may be deactivated after six months of no revenue-generating activity, with permanent loss of the number possible after an additional six months of inactivity—except where caused by network faults.
The proposed changes form part of a wider regulatory framework supporting the forthcoming Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), a secure, cross-industry platform designed to prevent fraud involving churned, swapped, or barred Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Numbers (MSISDNs).
The NCC explained that TIRMS “will provide a uniform approach for all sectors in relation to the integrity and utilisation of registered MSISDNs on the Nigerian communications network.” Operators would be required to submit details of all churned numbers to TIRMS within seven days of completion.
The consultation aligns with Section 58 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and invites stakeholder input for 21 days. Comments must be submitted on or before March 20, 2026.
The NCC’s move addresses longstanding subscriber complaints about sudden SIM disconnections, particularly for dormant lines or unpaid post-paid bills, and aims to balance operator efficiency with stronger consumer safeguards.
Industry observers expect the 14-day notice proposal to receive broad support from consumer advocacy groups, while operators may seek clarity on implementation costs, notification delivery reliability, and handling of cases involving lost or inaccessible alternative lines.
The outcome of the consultation will shape final amendments to the QoS Business Rules and influence the operational rollout of TIRMS, a key component of the NCC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen identity verification, reduce SIM-related fraud, and improve overall service reliability in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
