The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that telecommunications operators in Nigeria are permitted to reassign inactive subscriber lines after one year of dormancy, as part of efforts to improve number management efficiency across the sector.
The clarification was made by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, during a media engagement held on Friday in Abuja.
According to Maida, any SIM card that remains unused for a continuous period of 12 months may be recycled and reassigned to a new subscriber. He noted that the policy aligns with global best practices and is necessary to ensure the efficient utilization of Nigeria’s finite numbering resources.
Beyond SIM management, the NCC also reiterated its commitment to protecting consumer rights within the telecommunications ecosystem. The Commission emphasized that subscribers experiencing issues with their service providers can directly contact the regulator through its toll-free line, 622, for complaints, inquiries, and dispute resolution.
Maida further stressed that telecom operators are under regulatory obligation to compensate subscribers for prolonged or repeated poor network service. He explained that the directive forms part of the NCC’s broader quality-of-service enforcement framework aimed at holding operators accountable and improving user experience nationwide.
The EVC underscored the Commission’s ongoing collaboration with telecom companies to enhance service delivery, while assuring Nigerians that consumer protection remains a top priority.
The media briefing, which brought together industry stakeholders and journalists, focused on key regulatory updates, service quality concerns, and the evolving dynamics of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
