The Nigerian Communications Commission has unveiled plans to introduce a new regulatory technology platform aimed at tackling fraud and identity risks associated with recycled Subscriber Identity Module cards, marking one of the most significant cross-sector data security interventions in Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem in recent years. The initiative, which will enable financial and regulatory institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission, to access critical telecoms data, is expected to strengthen oversight across banking, investment, and digital identity systems that are increasingly tied to mobile phone numbers.
The official document disclosed that the commission is developing a platform known as the Telecom Identity Risk Management System, designed to track recycled mobile numbers and prevent their misuse after reassignment to new subscribers. The portal is scheduled for launch before the end of March 2026, following consultations with industry stakeholders and regulatory agencies.
The commission’s move comes amid rising complaints by Nigerians who receive messages, banking alerts, or verification requests intended for previous owners of reassigned numbers, exposing subscribers to financial risks and wrongful investigations tied to activities they did not commit. According to the regulatory document, these issues have created growing concerns over the integrity of phone number ownership as telecommunications services increasingly intersect with banking, identity verification, and digital commerce platforms. 
Under the proposed framework, the Telecom Identity Risk Management System will collect and share information on churned numbers, which are phone numbers returned to telecom operators after prolonged inactivity and subsequently reassigned to new users. The system will also maintain records of numbers flagged for fraudulent activities as reported by regulators across different sectors. The primary objective is to ensure that once a number changes ownership, institutions relying on that number for authentication or communication can identify associated risks before transactions or identity confirmations are processed. 
The Nigerian Communications Commission stated that the platform has already been built and tested in collaboration with telecommunications operators and will be centrally hosted by the commission while granting controlled access to relevant stakeholders. Agencies expected to benefit from the system include the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission, pension regulators, the National Identity Management Commission, and security agencies responsible for financial crime and national security oversight. 
A memorandum of understanding between the commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria is currently being finalised to operationalise data sharing immediately after deployment. Regulators say the arrangement reflects a growing recognition that fraud risks tied to telecommunications infrastructure now extend beyond the telecom sector into financial markets and national identity systems.
The development of the portal reportedly began in March 2024 and has involved extensive policy dialogue due to differences in know your customer requirements across sectors. Authorities noted that harmonising these requirements is essential to ensuring that telecom data can be safely integrated into banking and investment compliance frameworks without breaching privacy or regulatory boundaries. 
To support the deployment of the system, the commission has commenced amendments to existing regulations, including the Quality of Service Regulations 2024 and the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022. The regulatory review process, currently under consultation, is expected to conclude before the portal becomes operational.
Among the proposed changes is a requirement that subscribers be notified through alternative communication channels before their inactive lines are recycled. Regulators believe advance notification will give users the opportunity to retain numbers still linked to financial accounts or digital services, thereby reducing exposure to identity theft and transaction disputes. 
The revised rules will also introduce procedures for warehousing churned numbers within the new system and establishing clear protocols for blocking numbers implicated in fraud across sectors. By creating a unified risk monitoring structure, authorities aim to prevent criminals from exploiting reassigned phone numbers to access banking platforms, investment accounts, or authentication systems.
In addition, the commission highlighted an existing provision known as line parking, which allows subscribers to preserve unused numbers for up to one year at minimal cost, preventing them from being classified as inactive and reassigned to new users. Officials say wider awareness of this option could significantly reduce cases of identity confusion linked to recycled numbers. 
The initiative also reflects expanding cooperation between the Nigerian Communications Commission and financial regulators in recent years, particularly as mobile-based transactions continue to dominate retail payments nationwide. Improved data visibility across sectors will enable earlier detection of suspicious activities linked to SIM swaps, recycled numbers, and identity manipulation schemes.
Upon launch, the Telecom Identity Risk Management System is expected to represent one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive attempts to integrate telecommunications infrastructure into national fraud prevention architecture. Authorities say the platform will not only protect subscribers from unintended liabilities linked to recycled numbers but also strengthen regulatory intelligence across banking, investment, and security institutions.
The Nigerian Communications Commission maintains that the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise telecommunications regulation in line with the realities of a digital economy where mobile numbers function as both communication tools and identity credentials. With consultations nearing completion and regulatory amendments underway, the commission expects the portal to become operational within weeks, signalling a new phase in Nigeria’s fight against telecom-enabled financial crime.
Samuel Aina