The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned of a resurgence in call masking, describing the practice as a serious regulatory concern that threatens industry revenues, national security and the integrity of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
The telecoms regulator said call masking amounted to economic sabotage and warned that it would take steps to prevent the practice from spreading across the country’s networks.
The warning was contained in a communiqué issued after the 110th meeting of the NCC Board and signed by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha.
Call masking refers to the manipulation or concealment of the true originating number or identity of a telephone call, making it appear as though the call originated from a different number or location.
The NCC said the resurgence of the practice had serious implications for the “integrity, security and orderly development of the telecommunications ecosystem”.
“Call masking remains an unacceptable practice and a serious regulatory concern,” the Commission said.
It added that the practice undermines legitimate telecommunications operations, distorts industry revenues and could have broader economic consequences.
According to the regulator, “Call masking undermines legitimate telecommunications operations, distorts industry revenues and constitutes an act of economic sabotage capable of adversely impacting the national economy”.
The Commission said it would step up efforts to identify those behind call-masking activities and prevent their continued operation across telecommunications networks.
It also said it would work with security and law-enforcement agencies, as well as telecommunications industry stakeholders, to identify, prevent and eliminate the practice.
NCC deploys technology to strengthen telecoms security
The NCC also disclosed that it was deploying regulatory technology platforms as part of efforts to strengthen trust, security and compliance within the telecommunications ecosystem.
The Commission said its Device Management System (DMS) was now operational and would improve compliance with type-approval requirements, discourage the circulation of non-compliant devices and support efforts to combat mobile phone theft.
The regulator said the system would help tackle phone theft by “enabling reported stolen devices to be blocked across Nigerian networks”.
It also announced plans to launch the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) and its associated business rules in October 2026.
According to the NCC, TIRMS will strengthen the governance of telecommunications identities, including mobile numbers, while reducing the risks associated with their misuse, reassignment and recycling.
The Commission said enhanced safeguards were increasingly necessary as mobile numbers became more closely connected to financial, social and other digital services used by millions of Nigerians.
The NCC said the measures formed part of broader efforts to build a more secure, transparent and resilient telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria.
