Disappointed in MTN for Recycling Contract Number

Hi my name is Warren and my current number was *** at which I was on contract. I started my contract in 2015 the best decision ever, was so excited to get my Samsung S4 Mini. In 2019 I lost my job and could not pay my account so eventually I went to study and made arrangements so that I can pay my account, so in 2020 I got a permanent job and repaid my contract to which I finished on March 2021 with the help of Saya Recoveries and they told me I would get my number back after I paid my contract in full. I then received the letter stating my contract is paid up so that I can upgrade and get my number back. I've then emailed MTN Legal to ask when I can get my number back to which they rep**** after sometime and said "unfortunately the number in question has been recycled and I must apply for a new contract", If I was told this in the first place I would have paid my account in normal payments and not in 3 payment bringing it up to date, I'm so disappointed in MTN after I've been a loyal customer towards them, I have never in my 10+ years had to experience something so bad, atleast MTN could have had the decency to atleast redirect me and say we lost your number but we will give you two months of your contract to you loaded on your current number, or atleast something positive. I really wanted my number back as I did paid my account in full.