Reps Demand Strict Compliance With Law In Reallocation Of Phone Numbers

The House of Representatives has asked mobile network providers in the country to ensure strict compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2023 in the reallocation of phone numbers to wew subscribers.

It urged the urge the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend validity period of reallocation of phone number to a year and six months; while the six months be used to ensure that inactive sim cards of the said status would be published on National dallies for public information and copied to police.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Billy Osawaru(APC, Edo) at plenary on Tuesday.

Moving the motion, Osawaru
noted that Data Protection Act 2023 provides a legal framework for the protection of personal
information and establishes the Nigeria Data Protection Commission for the regulation of the processing of personal information.

He also noted that Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act authorises NCC to make and publish regulations, guidelines, and rules for the communications industry which would act as legal basis for enforcing industry standards, managing licenses and prescribing technical specifications.

Osawaru said NCC guidelines mandate the network providers in Nigeria to deactivate and reallocate inactive SIM card and phone numbers to new subscribers after a period of 180 days and later 1 year of dormancy without the knowledge of the former subscriber, as provided in their new Telecom Identity Risk Management Policy (TIRMP).

“Aware as claimed by network providers, that it is not financially sustainable or profitable for them to retain inactive SIM cards on their network despite being registered with the initial subscribers’ data.

“Worried that many innocent Nigerians and other Nationals have been embarrassed, humiliated and extorted, over false allegations resulted from reallocation of SIM cards or phone numbers used to commit a crime by the previous user.

“Concerned that if not strictly guided and checked reallocation of SIM cards or phone numbers to new
subscribers could lead to data breaches, identity theft and financial fraud, especially when the numbers are still linked to the previous owner’s sensitive information, such as bank verification number (BVN) and National Identity Number (NIN,” he argued.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated it relevant committees to liaise with NCC, Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC); and other
related Agencies to ensure the safety and protection of Mobile Communication Subscribers in Nigeria and report within four weeks for further legislative action.