If you’re relocating abroad, don’t ditch your Nigerian SIM just yet. Telcos can recycle dormant numbers, risking your privacy and access to key services.
- SIM cards unused for 12 months may be reassigned, even if linked to a NIN.
- Fraudsters can exploit recycled numbers to access bank accounts and social media.
- MTN, Glo, and 9Mobile offer simple, affordable plans to keep SIMs active.
- MTN: Dial *365*1# (1 yr – ₦511), *365*2# (2 yrs – ₦819), or *365*3# (3 yrs – ₦1228).
- Glo: Dial *777# → select “ALWAYS ON” → pay ₦500 (1-year validity).
- 9Mobile: Recharge ₦500, dial *539*1# or text 1 to 539 to activate (1 year validity).
Many Nigerians abroad assume their SIMs are safe, especially after linking them to NIN. But one year of silence can mean losing your number for good.
That’s not just inconvenient. It can mean missing bank alerts, OTPs, or worse — someone else receiving them.
Thankfully, all it takes is a small fee and a quick code to secure your number for months or even years.
If you’ve ‘japa-ed’ or plan to, secure your SIM now — before someone else ends up with it.
