Nigeria’s telecommunications regulatory body is set to launch a new data-sharing portal shortly after the conclusion of a public consultation period that ends in March, aimed at mitigating fraud risks associated with recycled mobile phone numbers.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has developed the Telecom Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) Portal in partnership with mobile operators in March 2024.This system is designed to gather and disseminate information regarding churned and reassigned numbers to prevent misuse in a context where phone lines serve as keys to banking, social media, pensions, and official identity verification.
According to a regulatory guideline, the portal is expected to become operational following a 21-day consultation that commenced in late February 2026 and concludes at the end of March 2026.This timeframe also encompasses proposed amendments to business rules under the Quality of Service Regulations 2024 and the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022.
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Mobile numbers are eligible for recycling after 360 days of inactivity, which is defined as the absence of revenue-generating activities such as calls, messages, or data usage, in accordance with current QoS regulations. Operators are then permitted to reassign these numbers to new subscribers.
Subscribers can prevent churning by temporarily parking their lines for up to a year at a minimal cost if they anticipate extended periods of inactivity. As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to grow, the recycling of numbers has introduced vulnerabilities. New owners occasionally receive messages or alerts intended for previous users or encounter service blocks related to old accounts.
In severe cases, individuals have faced legal issues connected to the actions of prior owners, including a reported incident in 2020 where a man was detained for several weeks after acquiring a SIM card previously linked to a family member of a former president.
The NCC will oversee the TIRMS portal, ensuring secure access for entities such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, securities and pension regulators, and the National Identity Management Commission.The report stated it clear that a memorandum of understanding with the CBN is being finalised to enable integration, with emphasis on aligning differing know-your-customer requirements across sectors.
