Keep your Nigerian number active while you're abroad
Studying or working in the UK, Canada or the US? A small top-up keeps your MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile prepaid line alive, so bank USSD codes and OTPs, BVN-linked services and calls from home keep working, and the line is not barred for inactivity.
- ✓ Recharges from ₦500, delivered in about a minute
- ✓ Pay in rupees, pounds, dollars or euros: card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, UPI in India, bank in the UK
- ✓ Email receipt with the operator's transaction ID
- ✓ Your own number, your own line: nothing to install
Questions
How long can an MTN Nigeria prepaid number stay unused before it is lost?
MTN says a prepaid number with no chargeable activity is disconnected from the network and the number recycled. Its Keep My Number service holds a line that goes abroad or sits dormant for more than 180 days: dial *365# after recharging, ₦3,500 for 1 year, ₦5,000 for 2 years, ₦7,500 for 3 years (prepaid only). Keeping a small balance on the line before you fly, and topping up during a long trip, avoids losing the number.
How long does an Airtel Nigeria prepaid number stay active?
Airtel says a prepaid line stays active and airtime never expires as long as you make a call, send an SMS or recharge at least once every 90 days. Keeping a small balance on the line before you fly, and topping up during a long trip, avoids losing the number.
Do I need the SIM in a phone?
No. The recharge lands on the line whether or not the SIM is in a phone. For OTPs and calls you do need it in a phone with roaming on, or in the second slot of your travel phone.
How fast is it?
About a minute from payment. You get an email receipt with the operator transaction ID.
Can I pay from India or the UK?
Yes. Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from anywhere, by UPI in rupees if you are in India, or from your bank in pounds if you are in the UK. Prices are shown in your currency.
Can you top up my number every month?
Set a reminder for the validity date, or keep a Slashtel Balance so the next recharge is one tap.
Sending credit to someone in Nigeria instead? Use the full Nigeria recharge page. Keeping another number alive: UAE · Philippine · Saudi · Qatar · Kenyan · what it costs by country.