The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a new telecoms identity risk management system (TIRMS) to curb fraud linked to mobile numbers and improve digital security across industries.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, Aminu Maida said the platform will serve as a central system for managing risks associated with mobile phone numbers, which are increasingly used for financial transactions, authentication, and access to essential services.
He noted that issues such as recycled, swapped, and fraudulently used SIM cards have become major channels for financial crimes and identity theft. According to him, the TIRMS platform is designed to address these vulnerabilities through a secure, regulatory-backed framework.
The system will allow service providers — including banks and telecom operators — to verify phone numbers flagged for suspicious activity before granting access to services, thereby strengthening trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Maida also disclosed proposed regulatory updates to support the initiative. These include requiring telecom operators to notify subscribers at least 14 days before deactivating their lines, submit details of recycled numbers within seven days, and implement stricter measures for blocking fraudulently registered SIM cards.
However, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc raised concerns that the new platform could duplicate existing solutions. The company noted that a SIM swap and recycling notification system already exists through collaboration between the NCC, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, but adoption by financial institutions has been limited.
MTN warned that without mandatory participation, the new system may face similar challenges. It recommended the creation of a multi-stakeholder technical working group and called for regulators, particularly the Central Bank of Nigeria, to mandate integration across banks and financial institutions.
The telecom firm also questioned the effectiveness of the proposed 14-day notification period, citing unreliable customer data such as outdated email addresses. It suggested prioritising notifications via primary mobile numbers and treating other channels as secondary.
Additionally, MTN highlighted gaps in consumer protection, especially around reclaiming unused airtime after line deactivation, and urged the NCC to provide clearer guidelines.
The commission said it has taken note of the concerns and will review them before finalising the new regulations.