The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed major telecom operators—MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile—to audit unclaimed airtime on inactive subscriber lines within 90 days.
The directive was issued during a stakeholders’ forum held on Tuesday to address concerns over unutilised recharges and enhance consumer protection in the telecom sector.
The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, represented by Executive Commissioner, Rimini Makama, said the move aimed to strike a balance between consumer rights and industry sustainability.
“As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve, we must address emerging issues, including the fate of prepaid balances on inactive lines,” Maida said.
According to the commission, subscribers whose lines have been inactive for 12 months will be given a grace period of another year to reclaim unused airtime, provided they can verify ownership.
The NCC’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Chizua Whyte, explained that the new guidelines prohibit operators from converting unclaimed airtime to cash. Instead, affected users can redeem it through services like data or voice bundles.
Whyte added that telecom operators must also notify subscribers about potential airtime forfeiture and educate them through awareness campaigns. She said the NCC would complete its audit reviews within 10 days of the operators’ submissions, with penalties for non-compliance.
Participants at the forum included mobile network providers, consumer advocacy groups, legal experts, and other industry stakeholders.
The new measures, the commission said, are in line with global best practices and are designed to improve transparency, build consumer trust, and ensure clarity in billing.
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