The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a new Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) to tackle fraud linked to mobile numbers and strengthen digital security across sectors.
The initiative follows an earlier announcement on February 27 to develop a cross-sector platform that enables financial and security regulators to track recycled phone numbers and prevent fraud tied to SIM reassignment.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, Aminu Maida, NCC’s executive vice chairman, said the system will provide a unified framework for managing risks associated with mobile numbers, which are now central to financial transactions and digital authentication.
“The fraudulent use of churned, recycled, swapped, and barred MSISDNs has become a significant vector for financial fraud and identity theft,” Maida said.
“To address this, the commission has initiated the TIRMS platform to provide a secure, regulatory-backed, cross-sectoral system for managing risks relating to the integrity and utilisation of mobile numbers.”
Maida said the platform will allow service providers, including banks and telecom operators, to verify numbers flagged for suspicious activity before granting access, while also improving accountability and trust in the digital ecosystem.
He added that proposed regulatory changes will require telecom operators to notify subscribers at least 14 days before deactivating their lines and submit details of churned numbers to the platform within seven days. A new framework for blocking fraudulently registered SIM cards is also planned.
The NCC said the initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen collaboration among security agencies, financial regulators, telecom operators, and consumer groups.
However, MTN Nigeria raised concerns that the platform could duplicate existing systems without addressing adoption challenges.
According to Anthonia Adaba, manager of telecoms laws and regulations at NCC, MTN noted that a SIM swap and recycling notification system already exists through collaboration between the NCC, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), but uptake by financial institutions has been low.
Adaba warned that without mandatory participation, TIRMS could face similar limitations. She recommended setting up a multi-stakeholder technical working group to define its operational and cost framework, and urged regulators to work with the CBN to mandate integration by banks.
She also questioned the effectiveness of the proposed 14-day pre-deactivation notification, noting that reliance on alternative phone numbers or email may fail due to outdated or incomplete customer data.
“Relying on email as a notification channel is impractical because email addresses are not mandatory in SIM registration or NIN verification data, and where collected, they are often outdated or unreliable,” she said.
“The Commission should note that pre-churn notifications are only likely effective if the customer has the same network secondary line or a valid email address.”
Adaba suggested prioritising notifications to primary mobile numbers, supported by alternative channels where possible, and called for better record-keeping and public awareness on SIM deactivation rules.
On consumer protection, she noted gaps in rules governing the recovery of unused airtime after line deactivation, proposing clearer guidelines that allow subscribers reclaim balances within a set period, subject to proof of ownership.
The NCC said it has taken note of the concerns and will consider them as it finalises the proposed regulations.