The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to launch a cross-sector platform aimed at tackling fraud linked to recycled SIM cards by enabling financial and security regulators to track reassigned phone numbers.
The initiative, known as the Telecom Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), is expected to go live before the end of March. The platform is designed to address issues arising from SIM recycling, including cases where new users receive messages intended for previous owners or are investigated for offences allegedly committed by former holders of the numbers.
According to details contained in an official document, the system has been in development for over a year and seeks to address concerns relating to the security and integrity of phone number ownership, particularly as telecom services increasingly intersect with other sectors.
The portal will collect and share data on churned (recycled) mobile numbers and numbers flagged for fraudulent activities across industries. The aim is to prevent misuse when phone numbers change hands and to make relevant information available to stakeholders in different sectors.
The NCC stated that the platform requires extensive collaboration, noting that know-your-customer (KYC) requirements vary across industries and must be properly aligned.
The system, which has been built and tested with telecom operators, will be hosted by the commission but made accessible to key institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), pension regulators, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and security agencies.
A memorandum of understanding with the CBN is reportedly being finalised to operationalise the system once it is launched. Development of the platform began in March 2024 and it is expected to go live after consultations with stakeholders are concluded.
To support the rollout of TIRMS, the NCC has begun amendments to the Quality of Service Regulations 2024 and the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022. The proposed changes are currently under consultation and are expected to be finalised before the end of March 2026.
The revised rules will require notification of subscribers whose numbers are about to be recycled, using alternative contact channels within a specified timeframe before disconnection. They will also establish a regulatory framework for warehousing recycled numbers within TIRMS, enable controlled access for relevant sectors, and define procedures for blocking numbers linked to fraudulent activities.
Subscribers who wish to retain unused numbers will be able to use the “line parking” provision, which allows a line to be preserved for up to one year at minimal cost to prevent it from being classified as inactive.
