The Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has expressed concern over what it described as a resurgence of call masking activities in the telecommunications industry, warning that the Commission would collaborate with relevant security and law-enforcement agencies, as well as industry stakeholders, to identify, prevent, and eliminate call masking activities.
The Board said in a communique issued at the end of its 110th meeting held on September 9, 2026, that “call masking undermines legitimate telecommunications operations, distorts industry revenues, and constitutes an act of economic sabotage capable of adversely impacting the national economy.”
Call masking is a telecommunications practice in which the actual originating number or identity of a telephone call is hidden or replaced with another number before the call reaches the recipient, such that the recipient’s phone is unable to identify the originating number appropriately.
The technology can make a call appear to originate from a different number, network, or location, with the result that the recipient will not know the actual source of the call, while international or other calls may be presented as local calls, potentially affecting how telecommunications operators account for and charge for traffic.
Call masking also poses a fraud risk as concealing the true origin of calls can facilitate scams, impersonation, and other unlawful activities; interfere with legitimate telecommunications routing and identification systems; and enable regulatory evasion as operators or intermediaries engaging in unauthorised call masking may circumvent established telecommunications rules.
Warning of the implications of call masking for the integrity, security, and orderly development of the telecommunications sector, the Board reiterated the Commission’s zero-tolerance position on call masking, describing the practice as unacceptable and a serious regulatory concern.
It pledged that the Commission would continue to promote transparency in its operations and pursue regulatory measures aimed at strengthening network resilience, digital trust, inclusive connectivity, consumer protection, fair competition, and the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Board also announced that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have deployed 8,526 of the 12,179 network coverage and capacity sites they committed to deploy across the country, representing approximately 70 percent of the operators’ communicated commitments and a significant increase from the approximately 5,000 sites reported at its previous meeting.
The communiqué said the Board reviewed strategic priorities, operational performance, and market developments, as well as key regulatory and industry issues affecting Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, noting that the additional infrastructure was expected to improve network coverage, capacity, and Quality of Experience for telecommunications users.
The Board, however, expressed concern over network disruptions caused by fibre cuts, noting that the problem contributed to a sharp increase in network disruptions in June.
It therefore stressed that infrastructure expansion must be accompanied by stronger protection of critical communications infrastructure, while urging continued attention to network resilience and service reliability.
The Board also noted the deployment of the Commission’s Device Management System (DMS), which is now operational and is being used to strengthen compliance with type-approval requirements.
It said the system is expected to improve the NCC’s ability to verify compliance of telecommunications devices, discourage the circulation of non-compliant devices, and support efforts to combat mobile-device theft by enabling reported stolen devices to be blocked across Nigerian telecommunications networks.
The Board also disclosed that the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) and its associated business rules are scheduled to become operational in October 2026.
It explained that TIRMS is intended to strengthen the governance of telecommunications identities, including mobile numbers, and reduce risks associated with the misuse, reassignment, and recycling of such identities, particularly as mobile numbers become increasingly connected to financial, social, and other digital services.
The Board emphasised that regulatory technology platforms must be deployed in ways that protect consumers, support lawful digital services, and strengthen market integrity while remaining consistent with applicable legal, privacy, and data protection requirements.
The communique said the Board also reviewed progress towards establishing a framework for zero-rating educational platforms and content in Nigeria, an initiative aimed at promoting digital inclusion and improving students’ access to educational resources.
The Board commended the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in developing the initiative and announced that the initiative was officially scheduled for launch on September 10, 2026, with the go-live date set for October 1, 2026. It said it would continue to monitor the sustainable implementation of the initiative.
It considered proposals for the strategic repositioning of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), including the development of a roadmap aimed at strengthening the institution’s relevance and long-term sustainability.
The Board noted a proposed phased approach to the exercise, supported by two independent consultancies, with the first consultancy expected to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Institute’s structure, operations, human resources, and institutional position, while the second will assess the commercial and legal viability of the proposed repositioning initiative.
