The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has said trust is at the heart of Nigeria’s efforts to build a secure and resilient digital economy, as mobile phone numbers increasingly serve as gateways to essential services beyond voice calls.
Speaking at the WSIS 2026 Leaders’ TalkX on building a secure and trusted Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Maida noted that mobile phone numbers have become central to everyday life, giving Nigerians access to banking, government services, healthcare, education, commerce and other digital platforms.
He said this growing reliance makes it critical to protect the integrity of mobile identities and the infrastructure that supports them.
According to Maida, Nigeria’s strategy is built on three pillars: trusted identities, trusted networks and trusted markets.
He explained that the NCC’s Telecom Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) enables authorised institutions to securely verify the identity linked to a phone number, a move aimed at improving accountability and curbing fraud.
On network security, Maida said the Communications Sector Cyber Resilience Framework, alongside the implementation of the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), is helping government, industry players and other stakeholders work together to strengthen the country’s communications infrastructure against emerging cyber threats.
He added that building trust also requires a healthy telecommunications market where consumers have access to reliable and affordable services, effective channels for resolving complaints, and investors operate under transparent, predictable and consistent regulations.
Maida maintained that resilient Digital Public Infrastructure can only thrive when citizens trust their digital identities, networks remain secure, and the regulatory environment supports innovation, investment and consumer confidence.
