As Nigeria accelerates its journey toward a fully digital economy, the challenge of protecting digital identities, securing communications infrastructure and building public confidence has become more critical than ever. At the centre of these efforts is the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), whose Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, has outlined a strategy designed to make trust the cornerstone of the country’s digital transformation.
Speaking at the prestigious Leaders TalkX session during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, Maida presented the NCC’s vision for building a secure and resilient Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), arguing that digital transformation can only succeed when citizens, businesses and governments have confidence in the systems that underpin it.
His presentation came at a time when digital technologies have become deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life. Mobile phone numbers, once used primarily for voice communication, have evolved into digital identities that provide access to banking services, government platforms, healthcare, education, e-commerce and numerous online services. This growing dependence has made the protection of digital identities and communications infrastructure a national priority.
According to Maida, the Commission’s strategy is anchored on a single guiding principle—trust.
He explained that the first layer of this strategy focuses on trusted identities. Through the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), authorised institutions are able to securely verify the identities linked to mobile phone numbers. The system is intended to improve accountability, combat identity-related fraud and enhance confidence in digital transactions across sectors.
The second pillar centres on trusted networks. Maida noted that the NCC is implementing the Communications Sector Cyber Resilience Framework alongside the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). These initiatives encourage collaboration among government agencies, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s communications infrastructure against cyber threats and operational disruptions.
The final pillar, he said, is the creation of trusted markets. Beyond technological safeguards, Maida stressed that sustainable digital growth depends on ensuring consumers have access to reliable, affordable and high-quality communications services, supported by effective complaint resolution mechanisms. At the same time, investors require a transparent, predictable and consistent regulatory environment that encourages long-term investment in digital infrastructure.
Summarising the Commission’s approach, Maida stated that resilient Digital Public Infrastructure ultimately rests on three interconnected foundations: trusted identities, trusted networks and trusted markets.
His message resonated strongly with the central objectives of the WSIS Forum 2026, one of the world’s foremost gatherings on digital development and information society policies.
Held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 6 to 10, the forum convened government leaders, technology experts, international organisations, private sector executives and civil society representatives to examine the future of global digital transformation. The 2026 edition followed the landmark WSIS+20 United Nations General Assembly review, placing renewed emphasis on strengthening international cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity, digital inclusion and sustainable development.
The Leaders TalkX sessions served as the forum’s strategic platform for high-level dialogue, featuring the inaugural session, the UN Leaders Dialogue and thematic discussions that explored practical solutions to emerging digital challenges.
For Nigeria, Maida’s participation highlighted the country’s growing role in shaping global conversations on digital governance. It also underscored the NCC’s commitment to ensuring that as more public services migrate online and digital technologies become increasingly central to economic and social development, the supporting infrastructure remains secure, resilient and worthy of public trust.
As digital public infrastructure continues to redefine how governments deliver services and how citizens interact with the digital economy, the NCC’s trust-based strategy reflects a broader recognition that technological progress alone is insufficient. Sustainable digital transformation will depend not only on innovation but also on the confidence that users, investors and institutions place in the systems that connect them.