NCC Unveils Platform to Track, Block Fraudulent SIM Activities

NCC Unveils Platform to Track, Block Fraudulent SIM Activities

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a new system aimed at tackling the growing menace of fraud linked to mobile phone numbers, particularly those arising from swapped, recycled and barred SIM cards.

The platform, known as the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), was unveiled in Abuja on Thursday during a stakeholders’ consultative forum organised by the commission.

The initiative is designed to address increasing cases of identity theft and financial fraud driven by the misuse of compromised mobile numbers, which have become central to banking, digital authentication and access to essential services.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the platform was developed to close emerging gaps in the telecommunications ecosystem.

“The fraudulent use of churned, recycled, swapped and barred MSISDNs has become a significant vector for financial fraud and identity theft, eroding public trust in our digital platforms,” he said.

Represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, Maida noted that while mobile numbers have evolved into critical identity tools, their increasing use has also exposed both users and institutions to new risks, especially when such numbers are reassigned without proper checks.

He explained that the TIRMS platform provides a secure, centralised system that enables service providers to verify the status of mobile numbers before granting access to services. According to him, this would help identify numbers associated with suspicious or criminal activities and prevent their reuse in fraudulent transactions.

The NCC boss added that the platform would enhance accountability across the sector by ensuring that telecom operators, financial institutions and government agencies rely on verified and reliable data in their operations.

To strengthen the system, the commission has proposed amendments to existing regulations on quality of service and subscriber registration.

The new measures will require telecom operators to notify subscribers at least 14 days before their lines are churned or recycled, while details of such numbers must be submitted to the TIRMS platform within seven days.

The framework also introduces stricter rules for blocking SIM cards that are fraudulently registered or used, with the aim of preventing them from re-entering the network.

Maida stressed that collaboration among stakeholders would be key to the success of the initiative, noting that the system is designed to work across sectors, including finance, identity management and law enforcement.

He said the consultative forum reflects the commission’s inclusive approach to regulation, adding that feedback from stakeholders would shape the final rollout of the platform.

Also speaking, the Director of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance at the NCC, Olatokunbo Oyeleye, described digital trust as essential for economic growth, warning that weak identity systems could undermine confidence in digital services.

“Our collective responsibility today is clear, to ensure that every mobile number in Nigeria can be trusted by users, by service providers, by regulators and by the entire digital ecosystem that depends on it,” she said.

Oyeleye noted that the TIRMS platform would serve as a central verification tool to strengthen identity assurance and reduce fraud risks associated with compromised SIMs. She added that the commission has already begun the process of reviewing relevant regulations, in line with the Nigerian Communications Act.

According to her, the outcome of the stakeholder engagement will guide the final adjustments to the proposed rules and ensure that the platform effectively meets the needs of all sectors.

Industry observers say the move represents a major step toward improving security in Nigeria’s digital space, especially as mobile numbers continue to play a key role in financial and online transactions.