NCC activates new security system to curb fraud in digital space

*The Nigerian Communications Commission introduced a fresh regulation named, ‘Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System’, to curb fraudulent transactions in the country’s entire digital ecosystem

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

As part of proactive measures to curb fraudulent transactions in the entire digital ecosystem, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a fresh regulation christened, “Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS)”.

ConsumerConnect reports the Commission said the new-fangled digital platform was designed to boost digital security across the West African country.

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Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, disclosed this development while delivering a keynote address Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Abuja, FCT.

Maida emphasised that TIRMS would prevent the menace of fraudulent transactions in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

The occasion was the one-day stakeholders’ forum on TIRMS, which attracted participants from the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Maida, represented at the event by Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management (ECSM) at NCC, said that the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), also known as the SIM or mobile phone number, had evolved into a critical identifier in the digital space.

The EVC/CEO of the Commission also explained that this has underpinned financial transactions, digital authentication, and access to essential services across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The evolution, however, has created new and challenging vulnerabilities in the digital environment, stated the NCC Executive Vice-Chairman.

He further noted: “The fraudulent use of churned, recycled, swapped, and barred MISISDNs has become a significant vector for financial fraud and identity theft.

“It is eroding public trust in our digital platforms and undermining the identity of systems we have worked hard to build.”

Maida averred: “It is in direct response to these challenges, that the commission has initiated the TIRMS platform.”

Core objectives of TIRMS, by Maida

The Commission as well described TIRMS as a secure, regulatory backed, cross-sectoral platform, designed to provide a uniform approach for managing all risks relating to the integrity and utilisation of registered MSISDNs, on the country’s communications network.

Maida said: “Its objectives are to improve access to mobile number across key sectors, to aid user accountability, reduce fraud risks by enabling service providers to verify mobile numbers flagged for dormancy, suspicious, criminal and fraudulent activities.

“This is before granting access to services and to enhance digital security by ensuring service providers across all sectors can proactively verify and validate customer mobile number status.”

Some regulatory measures on improving QoS

The Commission, according to the EVC/CEO, has proposed targeted amendments to the Quality of Service (QoS) Business Rules and Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations Business Rules, to strengthen the regulatory foundation for the TIRMS platform,

He stated: “These amendments will, among other things, require operators to notify affected subscribers at least 14 days, before any line is churned.

“Mandate the submission of all churn number details to the TIRMS platform, within seven days of completion of the churn process and establish a new framework for the blocking of fraudulently registered or fraudulently utilised MSISDNs.”

‘Digital trust is operating licence of modern economy’

In her remarks at the forum, Ms Olatokunbo Oyeleye, Director of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance at NCC, said digital trust was the operating licence of modern economy.

Oyeleye stressed that without it, nothing scaled and with it, everything accelerated in the digital space.

The Director of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance also stated: “For our sector, this trust must be embedded across the entire value chain.”

She also explained that TIRMS was designed to strengthen coordination across relevant sectors, to enhance identity assurance of mobile numbers, and prevent fraud, stemming from churned, swapped and recycled mobile numbers.

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