{
  "id": 15768917,
  "title": "NCC to expand phone number verification across sectors to curb fraud",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/ncc-to-expand-phone-number-verification-across-sectors-to-curb-fraud",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-20T16:09:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nairametrics",
    "slug": "nairametrics",
    "url": "https://nairametrics.com/2026/10/20/ncc-to-expand-phone-number-verification-across-sectors-to-curb-fraud/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) intends to broaden its phone number verification system across various economic sectors to mitigate fraud risks associated with reused numbers and tampered digital identities. Dr Aminu Maida, the NCC's Executive Vice Chairman, announced this during the commission's 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament in Lagos. The proposed expansion of the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) aims to enable organizations to identify recycled phone numbers and those linked to fraudulent activities.\n\nMaida emphasized that phone numbers have become integral to digital identities, as they are now commonly used to access financial services, manage pensions, and shop online. The need for the expansion stems from the pivotal role phone numbers play in accessing digital services. The NCC is collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend TIRMS to additional sectors that rely on phone numbers for customer identification and transaction facilitation.\n\nBy implementing the expanded TIRMS, organizations will be better equipped to recognize recycled phone numbers and numbers marked for fraud, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to customers' accounts and services. The NCC expects operators to transform their investments into more dependable call and internet connections, while the commission will oversee network performance and require providers to address any shortcomings.\n\nIn 2026, the NCC reported that 75 million subscribers received airtime compensation for subpar service through the commission's Consumer Compensation Framework. However, Maida stressed that compensation cannot compensate for the broader implications of service failures, such as missed business opportunities and disrupted communication. Furthermore, nearly three million subscribers received refunds for failed airtime and data purchases under a framework developed collectively with the CBN, telecom operators, and financial service providers. This framework aims to trace failed transactions and ensure timely refunds, preventing consumers from repeatedly cycling through banks and network operators for redress.\n\nRegarding data transparency, the NCC's upcoming usage notification guideline will provide clearer information on daily data consumption, remaining balances, and detailed usage breakdowns. This will empower subscribers to monitor their spending more effectively. In terms of complaints, the NCC encourages subscribers to initially reach out to their service providers, obtain complaint reference numbers, and escalate unresolved cases to the commission via its toll-free line (622).",
  "summary": "The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) plans to extend phone number verification to more sectors of the economy to reduce fraud risks linked to recycled numbers and compromised digital identities. The post NCC to expand phone number verification across sectors to curb fraud appeared first on Nairametrics .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}