Telecom regulator pushes cross-sector platform to curb identity theft, but operators warn of adoption hurdles…..
Nigeria’s telecom regulator is stepping up efforts to combat rising digital fraud with the introduction of a new system designed to monitor risks tied to mobile phone numbers.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), a platform aimed at tightening security around SIM cards and reducing cases of fraud linked to recycled or compromised phone numbers.
The move follows earlier plans by the commission to build a shared system that allows financial institutions, telecom operators, and security agencies to track mobile numbers that have been reassigned or flagged for suspicious activity.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman said mobile numbers technically known as MSISDNs have evolved beyond simple communication tools into critical digital identifiers. Today, they are widely used for banking transactions, identity verification, and access to essential services.
However, this growing reliance has also exposed vulnerabilities. Recycled, swapped, or improperly registered SIM cards have increasingly become entry points for fraudsters, enabling financial crimes and identity theft.
The newly introduced TIRMS platform is expected to serve as a centralized, regulator-backed system that enables service providers to verify the integrity of mobile numbers before granting access to sensitive services. Banks, fintech firms, and telecom operators will be able to flag and check numbers linked to suspicious activities in real time.
According to the commission, the initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem while improving accountability across industries that depend on mobile identity.
To support the rollout, the NCC is also proposing updates to existing regulations. One of the key measures includes requiring telecom operators to notify subscribers at least 14 days before deactivating inactive lines. Operators would also be mandated to upload details of churned or recycled numbers to the platform within a week, alongside stricter rules for blocking fraudulently registered SIM cards.
Despite the potential benefits, industry stakeholders have raised concerns about how the system will function in practice.
One major telecom operator warned that the new platform could duplicate existing solutions without addressing a long-standing challenge: low adoption. There is already a SIM swap and recycling alert system developed in collaboration with financial regulators, but participation among banks has been limited.
Without mandatory integration, experts say TIRMS risks facing similar constraints, potentially undermining its effectiveness.
To avoid this, stakeholders have called for the creation of a technical working group to address operational details such as system integration, cost-sharing, and implementation standards. There are also calls for closer collaboration with financial regulators to ensure that banks and other institutions are required to connect to the platform.
Concerns were also raised over the proposed 14-day notification rule for SIM deactivation. Industry players argue that relying on alternative contact channels such as email may not be reliable, given that many subscriber records are incomplete or outdated.
Instead, operators suggest prioritizing direct communication through the primary mobile number, while treating other channels as secondary options. They also recommend better public awareness campaigns to educate users on SIM inactivity rules and the risks of deactivation.
On consumer protection, stakeholders pointed to gaps in existing policies regarding unused airtime on deactivated lines. Proposals have been made to allow subscribers reclaim unused balances within a defined period, provided they can verify ownership.
The NCC says it has taken note of the feedback and will incorporate relevant recommendations as it finalizes the framework.
As digital transactions continue to expand across Nigeria, the success of TIRMS may ultimately depend not just on its design, but on how effectively it is adopted across the telecom and financial sectors.
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