The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is preparing to roll out new regulations that will allow telecom providers to deactivate and reassign dormant phone numbers after a year of inactivity.
The updated policy, known as the Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy (TIRMP), is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025.
It aims to streamline the management of inactive and recycled lines, especially those previously associated with fraud, as part of efforts to boost service quality and customer protection.
According to a source within the commission, the TIRMP platform will also facilitate secure cross-sector data sharing.
This will help operators and relevant institutions trace inactive numbers that might still be tied to banking and digital services, reducing risks of fraud and identity misuse.
Under the new rules, a phone line is considered inactive after 180 consecutive days without any revenue-generating activity, such as calls, text messages, paid USSD usage, or data. If the inactivity continues for another 180 days (totalling 360), the number can be reclaimed and reassigned.
“The QoS Regulation and Business Rules 2024 provides that after 365 days without any revenue-generating event, the line can be churned by the operator,” the source explained.
As telecom operators lease phone numbers from the NCC, they will be authorised to reallocate those numbers after the specified dormancy period.
The policy also aligns with global ITU standards (Recommendation E.164), which govern how phone numbers are structured and managed worldwide.
The NCC emphasised the limited availability of valid phone numbers, noting that proper management is essential to meet growing demand and ensure international compatibility.
The TIRMP platform is currently in beta testing. It is being developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), security agencies, and other stakeholders.
Once fully implemented, it is expected to improve trust, security, and efficiency in Nigeria’s telecom and digital service sectors.
