NCC Intensifies Crackdown on Call Masking in Nigeria

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is addressing the issue of call masking, where international calls appear as local Nigerian numbers. This practice poses a significant threat to telecom revenues, security, and the integrity of Nigeria’s communications system.

The NCC's concerns were raised after its Governing Board's 110th meeting, where reports indicated a resurgence of call masking activities. The NCC emphasized that this practice undermines legitimate telecommunications operations and constitutes economic sabotage.

Call masking allows international calls to bypass termination charges by appearing as local calls, leading to substantial financial losses for the telecom industry. This issue has been persistent, with Nigeria previously battling SIM-boxing, which involves using devices that can hold multiple SIM cards to route international traffic through local SIMs.

Ikechukwu Nnamani, Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Communications, has noted the negative impact of call masking on ordinary Nigerians, highlighting the broader implications of this fraudulent practice.