NCC to Expand Phone Number Verification Across Sectors to Curb Fraud

The Nigerian Communications Commission plans to extend phone number verification to more sectors of the economy to cut fraud linked to recycled numbers and compromised digital identities. The NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos at the commission's 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament.

Maida said the proposed expansion of the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System would help organisations identify recycled phone numbers and numbers flagged for fraudulent activities.

Digital identity risk

He said phone numbers have become central to how people access digital services. “A phone number has also become part of our digital identity, used to access financial services, manage pensions and shop online,” Maida said.

The commission is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the system to other sectors that rely on phone numbers to identify customers and facilitate transactions. The proposed expansion of TIRMS would help organisations recognise recycled phone numbers and numbers flagged for fraud. That should reduce the risk of unauthorised access to customers’ accounts and services.

Consumer compensation

Maida also gave updates on network quality and consumer protection. He said the commission recorded more than 6,500 network interventions in 2026, including equipment upgrades and capacity expansion to improve connectivity. Operators are expected to translate their investments into more reliable calls and internet connections, while the NCC monitors network performance and requires providers to address shortcomings.

He disclosed that 75 million subscribers received airtime compensation for poor service in 2026 under the commission’s Consumer Compensation Framework. He stressed that compensation could not make up for the wider consequences of service failures, 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.

Nearly three million subscribers received refunds for failed airtime and data purchases under a framework developed with the CBN, telecom operators and financial service providers. The framework is designed to trace failed transactions and ensure timely refunds, preventing consumers from being passed repeatedly between banks and network operators when seeking redress.

Data, devices and complaints

On data transparency, Maida said the commission’s forthcoming usage notification guideline will provide clearer information on daily data consumption, remaining balances and detailed usage breakdowns to help subscribers monitor their spending. Tariff simplification measures will also make bundle prices, allowances and validity periods easier to understand. Operators are expected to investigate disputed data usage fairly and explain their findings.

Maida advised consumers to verify mobile devices before purchase through the commission’s Device Checker by dialling *315# or calling 315. The check is to confirm compliance with the NCC’s Type Approval requirements and avoid unsafe or counterfeit products. On complaints, he urged subscribers to contact their service providers first, obtain complaint reference numbers and escalate unresolved cases to the commission through its toll-free line, 622.

The planned expansion builds on earlier regulatory efforts to tackle SIM-related fraud. In April 2026, the NCC and the CBN signed a memorandum of understanding to tackle payment fraud and strengthen consumer protection. The collaboration includes the TIRMS Portal, which enables financial institutions to access information on recycled phone numbers and numbers flagged for suspicious activity.

In March 2026, the NCC proposed that telecom operators give subscribers at least 14 days’ notice before deactivating SIM cards due to inactivity or postpaid churn. The proposal also included a requirement for operators to submit details of deactivated numbers to TIRMS within seven days.

For Nigerian businesses and consumers, the push to widen phone number verification could make it harder for fraudsters to reuse recycled numbers to open accounts or access services. The NCC’s consumer refund and compensation figures also point to the scale of service failures that regulators are trying to address.