The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, has declared that mobile phone numbers have become the central gateway to Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy, stressing that trust remains the foundation for a secure Digital Public Infrastructure, DPI.
Speaking at the WSIS 2026 Leaders’ TalkX, Maida said the role of mobile numbers has evolved far beyond voice communication, now serving as critical access points to banking, government services, healthcare, education, and commerce.
According to him, “as our lives become increasingly digital, the mobile phone number is no longer just a means of making calls; it is now the key to accessing essential digital services.”
He disclosed that Nigeria’s approach to safeguarding this critical asset is anchored on a three-pronged trust framework focusing on identity, networks, and markets.
On identity, Maida explained that the Telecoms Industry Risk Management System, TIRMS, has been deployed to enable authorised institutions verify the identities linked to phone numbers, a move he said is already strengthening accountability and tackling fraud.
Speaking on network resilience, he pointed to the Communications Sector Cyber Resilience Framework and the implementation of the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure, CNII, noting that both initiatives are designed to fortify the nation’s telecom infrastructure against cyber threats through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
He further emphasised the need for trust in the market, stating that while consumers demand reliable, affordable services and effective complaint resolution systems, investors require a stable, transparent, and predictable regulatory environment.
“Ultimately, resilient Digital Public Infrastructure rests on trusted identities, trusted networks, and trusted markets,” he said.
Maida reaffirmed NCC’s commitment to strengthening regulatory frameworks that will enhance security, deepen digital inclusion, and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.