The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is planning to expand phone number verification across more sectors of the Nigerian economy in a move aimed at reducing fraud linked to recycled telephone numbers and compromised digital identities.
The initiative, announced by NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, at the commission’s 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament in Lagos, is expected to help organisations identify phone numbers that have been reassigned to new users or flagged for suspected fraudulent activities.
The commission is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the use of its Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) beyond the telecommunications and financial sectors to other organisations that rely on phone numbers to identify customers and facilitate transactions.
The move comes as mobile phone numbers increasingly serve as gateways to bank accounts, pension services, online shopping platforms and other digital services.
Although phone numbers were initially used mainly for calls and text messages, they have become important tools for identity verification. This growing dependence has also created opportunities for fraudsters to exploit weaknesses in the management of telephone numbers.
One major concern is the recycling of inactive phone numbers. When a number is disconnected and later assigned to another subscriber, the previous owner’s accounts and services may still be linked to it.
As a result, the new user could receive messages, calls or financial alerts intended for the former owner. In some circumstances, outdated contact records and weak verification procedures could expose people to privacy breaches, identity theft or unauthorised access to digital services.
The TIRMS platform is designed to help authorised organisations check the status of phone numbers, including whether they have been reassigned, swapped or flagged for suspicious activity. Such checks could help service providers identify potential risks before approving sensitive transactions.
However, the effectiveness of the proposed expansion will depend on how well organisations implement the system, update customer records and respond to suspicious activity. Phone number verification alone cannot eliminate fraud, particularly where criminals use stolen credentials, social engineering or other methods to deceive unsuspecting customers.
For consumers, the development also highlights the importance of keeping registered phone numbers and contact details updated with banks and other service providers. Anyone who begins receiving financial alerts intended for another person should report the matter to the relevant institution rather than attempt to access or use the information.
Subscribers should also avoid sharing one-time passwords, banking PINs and other confidential security information with callers or people claiming to represent financial institutions.
The NCC’s proposed expansion represents an effort to strengthen digital identity protection as more Nigerians depend on mobile phones for financial and commercial activities.
