The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is planning to launch a cross-sector platform that will allow financial and security regulators to track recycled phone numbers to prevent fraud linked to SIM card reassignment.
The details of the plan were contained in a document provided to our reporters last week.
Known as the telecoms identity risk management system (TIRMS), the portal is expected to be launched by the end of March.
The portal is NCC’s solution to tackling issues related to SIM recycling, such as users receiving text messages meant for previous owners, or being investigated for offences allegedly committed by former users of those numbers.
According to the document, the above challenges are said to present issues of security and integrity of phone number ownership, especially as NCC’s churn policy now interacts more with other industries.
The agency said the portal will collect and share data on churned (recycled) mobile numbers and numbers flagged for fraudulent activities across sectors.
“The NCC has addressed this challenge by developing a cross-sector platform called the Telecom Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) Portal that collects and shares data on churned (recycled) phone numbers as well as numbers that have been flagged as having been used for fraudulent activities, as reported by other sector regulators,” the document reads.
“The goal is to prevent the misuse of numbers when they change hands. The information on this platform will be made available to relevant stakeholders across various sectors.
“It is worth noting that this requires significant dialogue as KYC needs of different sectors vary and need to interact properly.”
The document said the platform, which has been built and tested with telecoms operators, will be hosted by the commission but made accessible to key stakeholders, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), pension regulators, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and security agencies.
It said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CBN is being finalised to operationalise the system upon launch, adding that the platform, whose development began in March 2024, will go live after the conclusion of consultations with relevant stakeholders.
It is understood that the NCC has commenced amendments to the quality of service (QoS) regulations of 2024 and the registration of communications subscribers regulations of 2022 to support the deployment of TIRMS.
“A consultation on the proposed amendments to the Business Rules of the Quality of Service Regulations 2024 and the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022 is currently underway and is expected to be concluded before the end of March 2026,” the NCC document said.
“Upon completion of the review, the revised rules will provide for the notification of line owners whose numbers are about to be churned, using alternative contact channels within a specified timeframe prior to the disconnection.”
“The amendments will also establish the regulatory framework for warehousing churned numbers within TIRMS, enable controlled access for relevant sectors, and create clear procedures for blocking numbers that have been implicated in fraudulent activities.”
It added that subscribers who wish to retain unused numbers can utilise the “line parking” provision under the QoS business rules, which allows a line to be preserved for one year at a minimal cost to prevent it from being classified as inactive.
