….. Demand Longer Waiting Period, Stronger Data Protection
By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives has called for stricter regulations on the reallocation of inactive phone numbers in Nigeria, warning that the current system exposes citizens to fraud, identity theft and wrongful criminal suspicion.
This followed a motion by Billy Osawaru during Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers raised concerns that telecom operators routinely recycle SIM cards after periods of inactivity sometimes without users’ knowledge.
The House noted that existing rules under the Data Protection Act 2023 and the Nigerian Communications Act empower regulators to safeguard personal data and enforce industry standards, yet gaps remain in implementation.
Lawmakers expressed worry that reissued numbers have, in several cases, been linked to crimes committed by previous users, leading to embarrassment, extortion, and false accusations against innocent Nigerians.
They further warned that recycled numbers could still be tied to sensitive personal data such as Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identity Numbers (NIN), increasing the risk of identity theft and financial fraud.
To address the concerns, the House urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the dormancy period before number reallocation from the current timeline to one year and six months.
It also proposed that inactive numbers be publicly listed in national newspapers during the extended period to enhance transparency and public awareness.
Additionally, lawmakers directed relevant committees to work with the NCC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to strengthen safeguards around SIM reallocation and ensure better protection for telecom subscribers nationwide, with a report expected within four weeks.
