On Tuesday, Hon. Billy Osawaru raised a motion before the House of Representatives addressing the urgent “Need for Mobile Network Providers in Nigeria to Ensure Compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2023 in the Reallocation of Phone Numbers to New Subscribers”.
The motion focuses on the risks associated with the current system of reallocating inactive SIM cards to new subscribers, a practice that has increasingly led to data breaches, financial fraud, and the wrongful incrimination of innocent citizens.
Under current Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) guidelines and the Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy (TIRMP), network providers are mandated to deactivate and reassign SIM cards that have been dormant for a specific period. While providers argue that maintaining inactive lines is not financially sustainable, the House expressed deep concern over the digital trail left behind.
Many innocent Nigerians have faced embarrassment and extortion due to crimes committed by previous users of their newly acquired numbers, the House noted. The danger is even greater when these numbers remain linked to sensitive data such as Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identity Numbers (NIN).
The House highlighted that while Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act empowers the NCC to manage industry standards, these actions must now be harmonized with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to ensure personal information remains secure.
To address these vulnerabilities, the House has officially resolved to:
- Urge the NCC to extend the validity period for dormant lines to one year and six months.
- Mandate that during the final six months of dormancy, inactive numbers must be published in national dailies. This list should also be shared with the Nigerian Police Force to create a clear record of ownership transfer, aiding in the swift resolution of criminal investigations.
- Mandate the Committees on Communication and Commerce to work alongside the NCC and NDPC to establish a framework that ensures the safety of all mobile communication subscribers.
The Committees have been directed to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
