NCC introduced features to help banks and telecommunications companies fight fraud

In an effort to tackle mobile number related fraud and strengthen digital security across sectors, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a new feature dubbed the Telecommunication Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS).

The development was announced by Aminu Maida, Executive Deputy Chairman (EVC) of the commission, at a stakeholder consultation forum in Abuja on Thursday.

He revealed that the platform will provide a unified framework for managing risks associated with mobile numbers.

Maida said mobile numbers, also known as MSISDN, have become an important identifier for financial transactions, digital authentication and access to essential services.

However, he said vulnerabilities related to SIM cards being recycled, swapped and used fraudulently have emerged as a major channel for financial crime and identity theft.

“Fraudulent, recycled, swapped and prohibited uses of MSISDN have become a significant vector of financial fraud and identity theft,” Maida said.

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“To address this, the commission has initiated the TIRMS platform to provide a secure, regulatory-backed, cross-sectoral system to manage risks related to the integrity and utilization of mobile numbers.”

EVC said the platform will enable service providers, including banks and telecom operators, to verify mobile numbers flagged for suspicious or fraudulent activity before providing access to services.

He added that this system will also increase accountability and increase trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

The NCC boss said the commission had proposed amendments to existing regulations to support such platforms, including new regulations requiring telecom operators to notify customers at least 14 days before deactivating their lines.

He said operators will also be mandated to submit details of churned numbers to the TIRMS platform within seven days, while a new framework will be introduced to block fraudulently registered SIM cards.

Maida added that this initiative reflects the commission’s push for cross-sector collaboration involving security agencies, financial regulators, telecom operators and consumer groups.

By: Babajide Okeowo