The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to introduce a new regulatory framework known as the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) to combat SIM-related fraud and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The announcement was made by the Executive Vice-Chairman of the commission, Aminu Maida, during a stakeholder forum held in Abuja.
Maida explained that the TIRMS platform is designed to address the growing number of fraud cases linked to mobile phone numbers within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
According to him, the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN)—commonly known as a SIM or mobile number—has become a key digital identifier used for financial transactions, authentication processes, and access to essential services.
He noted that while the use of mobile numbers has helped drive digital transformation, it has also created new vulnerabilities within the system.
“The fraudulent use of churned, recycled, swapped and barred MSISDNs has become a significant vector for financial fraud and identity theft,” Maida said.
He added that such activities are undermining public trust in digital platforms and weakening identity systems across sectors.
“It is in direct response to these challenges that the commission has initiated the TIRMS platform,” he stated.
The NCC said the new system will function as a secure, regulatory-backed platform that provides a unified framework for managing risks associated with mobile number usage across Nigeria’s communications network.
According to Maida, the platform will allow service providers and institutions to verify mobile numbers linked to suspicious, dormant, or fraudulent activities. It will also improve accountability tied to mobile number usage, reduce fraud risks before services are accessed, and strengthen digital security through cross-sector verification systems.
The system will enable organisations to validate the status of a customer’s mobile number before completing transactions or granting access to services.
To support the rollout of the platform, the commission has proposed regulatory amendments, including changes to its Quality of Service Business Rules and the Registration of Communications Subscribers framework.
Maida said telecom operators will be required to notify subscribers at least 14 days before a line is churned and submit details of churned numbers to the TIRMS platform within seven days.
The new framework will also empower regulators to block fraudulently registered or misused mobile numbers.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over SIM-related fraud in Nigeria, particularly involving recycled, inactive, or compromised phone numbers.
Data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) indicates that digital payment fraud remains a significant challenge. In 2025 alone, 67,518 fraud incidents were recorded, resulting in losses estimated at N25.85 billion.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also identified SIM-swap abuse, insider compromise, and Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams as emerging threats affecting Nigeria’s financial and digital infrastructure.
Regulators have urged banks and financial institutions to strengthen safeguards and respond swiftly to emerging electronic fraud risks to protect Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem.
With mobile numbers increasingly serving as gateways to banking, fintech, and government services, authorities say stricter SIM management and identity verification frameworks are essential to reduce fraud risks and maintain trust in the country’s digital economy.
