FG Issues New Rules for Deactivating Dormant Phone Lines

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a set of updated guidelines under its Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy (TIRMP), establishing new rules for deactivating and recycling dormant phone lines. According to the commission, inactive lines that do not generate revenue—through calls, SMS, USSD sessions, or data use—for a period of 180 days will be flagged as inactive. If inactivity persists for another 180 days, making it a total of 360 days, the number will be deemed eligible for reassignment. This effectively gives a one-year window before any inactive phone number can be churned and recycled by mobile network operators.

A reliable source at the NCC disclosed that the updated policy will be formally launched in the fourth quarter of 2025. The move aligns with the Commission’s broader Strategic Vision Plan to enhance both the quality of service and consumer experience across the telecommunications ecosystem. The revised guidelines are part of a larger initiative aimed at safeguarding digital and financial platforms, minimizing fraud, and ensuring better control over phone number ownership during transitions.

The TIRMP also introduces a secure data-sharing platform designed to track and manage phone numbers that have been churned or flagged for fraud. This platform will enable the NCC and stakeholders—including the Central Bank of Nigeria and security agencies—to detect and act on high-risk numbers, update customer records, and maintain the integrity of telecommunications services.

Numbering resources are considered inherently limited, governed globally by ITU Recommendation E.164, and managed in Nigeria under the mandate of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. The NCC assigns these resources—ranging from mobile numbers to short codes—ensuring fairness, consumer protection, innovation, and alignment with global standards.

The commission emphasized that recycling phone numbers carries risks, especially when previously linked services remain connected to reassigned numbers. The new policy is expected to mitigate such risks by enhancing transparency and enforcing a more robust framework for managing telecommunications identities. A beta version of the TIRMP platform is currently being tested, with full rollout anticipated before the end of the year.