The House of Representatives has passed a resolution urging the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to lengthen the waiting period before inactive mobile numbers are reassigned to new users to eighteen months. Lawmakers say the extension will reinforce compliance with the Data Protection Act 2023 and reduce the risk of fraud, identity theft and wrongful criminal accusations linked to recycled SIM cards.
The resolution follows a motion tabled by Billy Osawaru, the representative for Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, during today’s plenary session. Osawaru argued that the additional six‑month interval should be used to publish a public notice of pending reallocation in national newspapers and to inform police forces once or twice a year. “The House is aware the said guidelines mandate the network providers to deactivate and reallocate inactive SIM cards and phone numbers,” he said.
Currently, NCC guidelines require network operators to deactivate a SIM card after 180 days of inactivity and to make the number available for reallocation after one year of dormancy, without notifying the former subscriber. Osawaru noted that the proposed change would improve transparency and simplify the resolution of criminal or fraudulent cases that arise from SIM‑card reassignment.
The lawmaker also highlighted the financial pressures on network providers, who, according to industry statements, find it unsustainable to retain inactive SIM cards while still holding the original subscriber’s data. “We are concerned that if not strictly guided and checked, reallocation of SIM cards or phone numbers to new subscribers could lead to data breaches, identity theft and financial fraud, especially when the numbers are still linked to the previous owner’s sensitive information, such as Bank Verification Number and National Identity Number,” he added.
If adopted, the extended waiting period would give authorities more time to track the usage of dormant numbers and notify affected parties before reassignment. It would also align Nigeria’s telecom practices with broader data‑protection standards and address growing concerns over cybercrime linked to recycled mobile identifiers.
The House’s recommendation now awaits consideration by the NCC, which is expected to review the proposal and determine the regulatory adjustments required to implement the longer dormancy period. The outcome could have significant implications for telecom operators, consumers and law‑enforcement agencies across Nigeria.
