Photo caption: NCC logo
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated plans for a new Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) platform aimed at curbing fraud and strengthening digital security to ensure a more resilient digital ecosystem.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ consultative forum on frameworks for the blockage of fraudulently registered Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) numbers by telecom operators in the country.
According to the EVC, the Commission initiated the Stakeholders Consultative process on the TIRMS Platform to address challenges associated with the usage of SIM by subscribers.
Represented by the Executive Commissioner of Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, Maida noted that fraudulent activities involving recycled, swapped, churned, and barred SIMs have become a major channel for identity theft and financial crimes, undermining confidence in digital platforms.
He stated that forum became necessary to unite industry experts, security agencies, financial sector regulators, government agencies, consumers, and concerned citizens in building a safer and more trustworthy digital communications ecosystem.
Maida said: “The Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), commonly known as the SIM or mobile phone number, has evolved into a critical identifier underpinning financial transactions, digital authentication, and access to essential services across all sectors of our economy.
“This evolution, however, has created new and challenging vulnerabilities. The fraudulent use of churned, recycled, swapped, and barred MISISDN’s has become a significant vector for financial fraud and identity theft, eroding public trust in our digital platforms and undermining the identity of systems we have worked hard to build.”
He explained that the TIRMS platform was created to address the challenges, stressing that it is a secure platform supported with regulatory mechanisms to provide a uniform approach for managing all risks relating to the integrity and utilization of registered SIM numbers.
The NCC boss noted that the steps were taken by the Commission to “improve access to mobile numbers 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 before granting access to services.”
According to the EVC, the measures would also “enhance digital security by ensuring service providers across all sectors can proactively verify and validate customer mobile number status.”
“To strengthen the regulatory foundation for the TIRMS platform, he said the Commission has proposed targeted amendments to the Quality of Service (QoS) Business Rules and the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations Business Rules.
“These amendments will among other things, require operators to notify affected subscribers at least Fourteen (14) days before any line is churned, mandate the submission of all churn number details to the TIRMS platform within Seven (7) days of completion of the churn process, and establish a new framework for the blocking of fraudulently registered or fraudulently utilized MSISDN’s”, Maida added.
He expressed optimism that the changes would promote transparency, protect subscribers, and ensure regulatory clarity in support of the TIRMS platform’s objective.
“This Forum also signposts the Commission’s strategic focus on collaboration across different sectors as well as its participatory approach to rule-making.
“Hence, the discussions today and the eventual implementation of the TIRMS Platform will be geared towards collaboration with key stakeholders, relevant regulators, and law enforcement outfits.
“This approach will ensure a One Government approach and create the much-needed bridge across sectoral barriers and ecosystems”, he stressed.
Also speaking at the event, Director of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance at the NCC, Olatokunbo Oyeleye, described digital trust as the foundation of the modern economy. “As rightly noted, digital trust is the operating licence of modern economy. Without it, nothing scales and with it everything accelerates. For our sector, this trust must be embedded across the entire value chain,” she said.
