AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Yes, if you keep it in use or pay to keep it. Under the NCC's rules a line with no revenue-generating activity for six months may be partly barred, and after 12 months may be churned and the number recycled. A call, SMS, data session or USSD use counts as activity. MTN and Airtel sell "Keep My Number" plans for prepaid lines abroad; as at October 2026 their pages list ₦3,500 a year (MTN) and ₦2,000 a year (Airtel).
For many Nigerians in the US, the old number is where the bank sends OTPs and where family still call. Losing it can lock you out of accounts at home. Here is how inactivity rules work and the practical ways to keep a line alive from abroad.
The NCC rule
The NCC Consumer Portal (article dated 30 July 2026) explains churned lines:
- Activity means revenue-generating use: making or receiving calls, SMS, data or USSD.
- After six months without activity a line may be partly barred so it can only receive calls, for another six months.
- After 12 months of inactivity the line may be churned and the number recycled to someone else.
- Travelling abroad is listed as a common cause, and the NCC notes a line can be parked for a nominal fee for a year (the fee is not given).
Option 1: keep using it
The cheapest route is regular activity. With roaming on, a short call, an SMS or a USSD balance check (the NCC's universal code *310#) every few months keeps the line in use. Roaming charges vary by network and partner, so check rates before you use data abroad. A relative at home can also put the SIM in a phone and make a call, if you are comfortable with that.
Option 2: pay to park it
| Network | Plan | Price (network page, as at Oct 2026) | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN | Keep My Number (prepaid) | 1 year ₦3,500; 2 years ₦5,000; 3 years ₦7,500 | *365*1#, *365*2#, *365*3# |
| Airtel | Keep My Number (prepaid) | 1 year ₦2,000; 2 years ₦3,500; 3 years ₦5,000 | *494*1#, *494*2#, *494*3# |
| Glo | Not confirmed | Check Glo | |
| T2 (formerly 9mobile) | Not confirmed | Check T2 |
MTN says its plan is for numbers abroad or inactive for more than 180 days, is prepaid only, and that if the subscription expires without renewal the number is disconnected and recycled. Airtel says its plan can be activated while roaming on a preferred network with airtime, that you are notified before expiry, and that if the plan lapses and the line is idle it "will be disconnected or recycled". Prices change, so check the network's page or USSD menu for today's price.
A worked example
Example only, using the October 2026 prices: keeping an MTN line for three years costs ₦7,500 on the three-year plan, against ₦10,500 for three one-year plans (3 × ₦3,500). On Airtel, the three-year plan is ₦5,000 against ₦6,000 for three single years (3 × ₦2,000). The longer plans cost less, but you pay up front.
Do not forget the NIN link
Inactivity is one risk; an unlinked NIN is another. A line that is parked but not linked to a verified NIN can still be barred. Check with *996#, the NCC's NIN-SIM verification code; see NIN-SIM linking from the US. Glo says unlinked lines "can be disconnected anytime".
What to check first
- Is the line prepaid? Both MTN and Airtel plans are for prepaid lines.
- Is the NIN linked (*996#)?
- When did you last use it? If close to six months, act now.
- Is this the number on your NIMC record or bank profile? If so, losing it costs more; see updating a BVN-linked number from the US.
Postpaid lines and other networks
MTN says postpaid lines cannot use Keep My Number, and Airtel describes its plan as prepaid only. If your line is postpaid, ask the network how it treats a line while you are abroad. For Glo and T2, we could not find a parking plan on the pages we read in October 2026; ask their customer care whether one exists and what it costs before relying on it. 9mobile became T2 in August 2025, so older guides under the 9mobile name may be out of date.
If the number has already gone
Once a number is churned it can be given to a new customer, and the NCC page does not describe a right to get it back. Some networks offer recovery for dormant lines; ask quickly, before the number is reissued, and have your NIN and SIM registration details ready.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Assistant can set reminders, for example to use or renew the line before the six-month mark; nothing moves without your approval. See the assistant.
Questions people ask
How long before a Nigerian SIM is deactivated?
The NCC says six months without activity may lead to partial barring, and 12 months may lead to the number being churned and recycled.
How much is MTN Keep My Number?
As at October 2026 MTN lists ₦3,500 for one year, ₦5,000 for two years and ₦7,500 for three years, prepaid only.
How do I keep my Airtel line active abroad?
Use it regularly or subscribe to Airtel Keep My Number (₦2,000 for one year as at October 2026) with *494*1#.
Does receiving calls keep a Nigerian line active?
The NCC lists making or receiving calls, SMS, data and USSD as activity.
Sources
- NCC Consumer Portal: All you need to know about churned lines (30 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- MTN Nigeria: Keep My Number · accessed Oct 2026
- Airtel Nigeria: Keep My Number · accessed Oct 2026
- NCC Consumer Portal: Harmonised short codes (7 Jun 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- Globacom: NIN · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: 9mobile rebrands as T2 (8 Aug 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.