The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the period before inactive phone numbers are reassigned to new users to one year and six months.
Lawmakers said the proposed extension would help strengthen compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2023, and reduce risks of fraud, identity theft, and wrongful criminal accusations linked to recycled SIM cards.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, Billy Osawaru, during plenary on Tuesday.
Osawaru proposed that the additional six-month window should be used to publicly announce inactive SIM cards scheduled for reassignment in national newspapers, as well as notify security agencies such as the police on a periodic basis.
He argued that the measure would improve transparency in the telecom sector and help authorities better resolve cases where reassigned numbers are linked to criminal or fraudulent activities.
Currently, under the Nigerian Communications Commission guidelines, telecom operators are required to deactivate inactive SIM cards after 180 days (six months).
The numbers may then be reassigned after one year of inactivity, in line with the Commission’s Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy, without mandatory notification to previous subscribers.
