The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated a stakeholder consultation process on a new framework aimed at curbing fraudulent activities linked to Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. The proposed system will empower telecom operators to identify and block SIMs that are fraudulently registered or misused.
According to the regulator, the initiative is designed to unite industry experts, security agencies, financial regulators, government institutions, and consumers in building a more secure and dependable digital communications environment. The effort reflects growing concerns about the integrity of SIM-based services.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement event in Abuja, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, revealed that the commission has begun consultations on the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS). The platform is intended to tackle persistent challenges associated with SIM registration and usage.
Maida stressed the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks, noting that SIM cards have evolved into essential tools for financial transactions, digital identity verification, and access to critical services. This expanded role, he said, has also exposed the system to new risks and vulnerabilities.
He warned that the fraudulent use of recycled, swapped, churned, and barred SIMs has become a major channel for financial crimes and identity theft. Such activities, he added, continue to weaken public trust in digital systems and undermine existing safeguards.
To address these issues, the NCC has proposed amendments to its Quality of Service and subscriber registration regulations. These include mandatory 14-day notice before SIM churn, submission of churned numbers to TIRMS within seven days, and the establishment of mechanisms to block fraudulent SIMs. Maida emphasized that the measures would boost transparency, accountability, and collaboration across sectors under a unified “One Government” approach.
