The Nigerian Communications Commission plans to expand phone number verification across more sectors of the economy to curb fraud associated with recycled phone numbers and compromised digital identities.
The commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos during the NCC’s 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament.
He said the proposed expansion of the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System would enable organisations to identify recycled phone numbers and numbers linked to fraudulent activities.
Maida noted that phone numbers had become a critical part of digital identity, as they are increasingly used to access financial services, manage pension accounts and make online purchases.
Maida said phone numbers had become central to how people access digital services, making verification increasingly important in preventing fraud.
“A phone number has also become part of our digital identity, used to access financial services, manage pensions and shop online,” Maida said.
He added that the commission was collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System to other sectors that use phone numbers to verify customers and facilitate transactions.
The proposed expansion of TIRMS is expected to help organisations identify recycled phone numbers and those flagged for fraudulent activities, reducing the risk of unauthorised access to customers’ accounts and services.
Maida also highlighted the commission’s efforts to improve network quality and strengthen consumer protection.
He disclosed that the NCC had recorded more than 6,500 network interventions in 2026, including equipment upgrades and capacity expansion aimed at improving connectivity.
According to him, telecom operators are expected to translate their investments into more reliable voice calls and internet services, while the commission continues to monitor network performance and compel providers to address identified deficiencies.
Maida disclosed that 75 million subscribers had received airtime compensation in 2026 for poor network service under the commission’s Consumer Compensation Framework.
He, however, noted that airtime compensation could not fully address the broader consequences of poor network service, including lost business opportunities and disrupted communication.
“Compensation matters, but it cannot recover a lost business opportunity or an important conversation that could not take place,” he said.
Maida also disclosed that nearly three million subscribers had received refunds for failed airtime and data transactions under a framework developed in collaboration with the CBN, telecom operators and financial service providers.
He said the framework was designed to track failed transactions and ensure prompt refunds, preventing consumers from being passed between banks and network operators when seeking redress.
