By Nifemi Adefemi
(with Agency Reports)

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a new numbering format for fixed lines.
Henceforth. Nigeria’s Fixed-Lines Numbering Format will change from eight digits to 10 digits with the addition of “02” prefix before an existing fixed number.
The announcement was made to give expression to a key responsibility of the NCC and it is consistent with the practices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations arm supervising Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

For example, in the new order, to dial the hitherto existing number, 09461700, a subscriber is expected to dial 02094617000.
Additional examples are: For Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano’s current number format of 014630643, 094630643, 084460643 and 064460643, will now be 02014630643, 02094630643, 02084460643 and 02064460643 respectively in the new numbering format.

However, the change only affects Fixed Telephone Numbers while the existing mobile numbering format remains the same.

The Commission also clarified that existing numbers will continue to operate concurrently till the cut-over date of December 31, 2023. From January 1, 2024, the new numbering format beginning with “02” prefix will be operational.

In other words, the old and new number formats are allowed to run concurrently till the cut-over date (December 31, 2023). Thereafter (from January 1, 2024), the new fixed-lines format will assume full recognition across all networks.