The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to introduce a new regulation called the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS). This initiative is designed to combat SIM-related fraud and bolster confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, revealed these plans during a stakeholder forum in Abuja. He stated that the TIRMS platform is specifically created to address the increasing instances of fraud linked to mobile phone numbers within Nigeria's digital ecosystem.

Maida highlighted that the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), commonly known as a SIM or mobile number, has become a crucial identifier for financial transactions, digital authentication, and accessing essential services. He noted that while this evolution has driven digital growth, it has also exposed vulnerabilities.

“The fraudulent use of churned, recycled, swapped and barred MSISDNs has become a significant vector for financial fraud and identity theft,” Maida explained. He added that such activities are eroding public trust in digital platforms and weakening identity systems across various sectors. “It is in direct response to these challenges that the commission has initiated the TIRMS platform,” he stated.

The NCC described TIRMS as a secure, regulatory-backed platform intended to create a unified system for managing risks associated with mobile number usage across Nigeria's communications network.

According to Maida, the platform will enable service providers to verify mobile numbers associated with suspicious, dormant, or fraudulent activities. It will also improve accountability for mobile number usage, reduce fraud risks before services are granted, and strengthen digital security through cross-sector verification systems. The system will allow institutions to proactively validate the status of customer mobile numbers before completing transactions or granting access.

To facilitate the rollout of TIRMS, the NCC has proposed regulatory changes. These include amendments to its Quality of Service Business Rules and the Registration of Communications Subscribers framework. These changes will require telecom operators to notify subscribers at least 14 days before a line is churned.

Furthermore, operators will be mandated to submit the details of churned numbers to the TIRMS platform within seven days. The new framework will also empower the blocking of mobile numbers that have been fraudulently registered or misused.

Olatokunbo Oyeleye, the Director of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance at NCC, emphasized the critical importance of trust in the digital economy during the event.