The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it plans to expand phone number verification across sectors to combat fraud linked to recycled numbers and compromised digital identities.
Speaking at the 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament in Lagos on Tuesday, the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, said the expansion of the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), would help organisations identify recycled and fraud-flagged numbers.
He noted that phone numbers had become essential to accessing financial services, managing pensions and shopping online, making their security critical to Nigeria’s digital economy.
Maida disclosed that the commission had recorded more than 6,500 network interventions in 2026 to improve connectivity.
He urged operators to deliver more reliable services and communities to report vandalism and theft of telecommunications infrastructure.
The NCC boss also revealed that 75 million subscribers had received airtime compensation for poor service, while nearly three million had been refunded for failed airtime and data transactions.
On consumer protection, Maida said forthcoming data usage guidelines would improve transparency by providing clearer information on consumption, balances and data charges. Tariff simplification measures would also make bundle prices and validity periods easier to understand.
He advised consumers to verify mobile devices through the NCC’s Device Checker by dialling *315# or calling 315, while urging subscribers to escalate unresolved complaints to the commission through its toll-free line, 622.
In her remarks, the NCC Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Ms Rimini Makama, called for practical commitments from service providers on network quality, transparent billing and timely complaint resolution.
She said the commission would review actions taken to address concerns raised by consumers at the previous parliament.
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