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The warning follows recent findings that ranked Nigeria as the most spammed country in Africa and the eighth globally, with more than half of all unidentified calls received by Nigerians classified as spam.
Industry experts who spoke in Lagos said the surge in unwanted calls, many linked to fraudulent schemes and aggressive telemarketing, poses serious risks to the country's rapidly expanding digital economy.
According to the report, telecom-related calls account for about 35 per cent of spam traffic in Nigeria, with cybercriminals increasingly exploiting telecommunications networks to impersonate banks, service providers and other legitimate institutions.
Telecommunications policy analyst, Bayo Akinlade, said the increasing frequency of spam calls has made many Nigerians reluctant to answer unfamiliar numbers, fearing scams, identity theft and financial losses.
He noted that the erosion of trust in mobile communication could affect critical sectors such as banking, healthcare, logistics and emergency services that rely heavily on telephone contact.
Akinlade further observed that legitimate businesses are finding it more difficult to engage customers, as many subscribers now ignore unknown callers, assuming they are fraudsters.
He urged telecommunications operators to strengthen caller verification systems and deploy advanced technologies capable of identifying and blocking suspicious traffic before it reaches consumers.
He also called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to intensify enforcement against unauthorised telemarketing activities and fraudulent bulk-calling operations.
Cybersecurity consultant Adaobi Eze described the development as evidence of growing weaknesses in digital security awareness and regulatory enforcement.
According to her, fraudsters are increasingly deploying automated software and artificial intelligence-powered voice systems to place large volumes of calls, making detection and prevention more challenging.
“Spam calls have evolved beyond mere marketing disruptions. They are now frequently linked to phishing schemes, identity theft and financial fraud targeting unsuspecting citizens,” she said.
Eze warned that persistent exposure to fraudulent calls could discourage participation in digital services, particularly among elderly users and residents of rural communities who are still adapting to mobile financial technologies.
She stressed the need for nationwide awareness campaigns to educate consumers on identifying fraudulent communications and protecting their personal information.
Also speaking, digital economy researcher Ibrahim Yusuf cautioned that the trend could hinder Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leading technology-driven economy in Africa.
Yusuf said trust remains a fundamental pillar of digital ecosystems, adding that repeated encounters with spam and scam calls often make users more cautious about engaging with digital platforms.
“When communication channels lose credibility, businesses lose customers, fintech firms experience reduced engagement, and innovation suffers because people become increasingly sceptical of digital interactions,” he said.
He advocated stronger collaboration among telecommunications companies, financial institutions and cybersecurity agencies to develop advanced spam detection systems capable of identifying suspicious behaviour in real time.
Yusuf also urged authorities to enforce data protection regulations more rigorously to prevent the illegal use of subscriber information by spam operators.
Industry observer Tunde Folarin attributed the rise in spam calls to Nigeria’s growing digital population, expanding fintech ecosystem and widespread mobile phone adoption, which have made the country an attractive target for organised cybercriminal networks.
He warned that persistent concerns over cybersecurity and consumer protection could discourage foreign investment in the digital economy if left unaddressed.
“The success of the digital economy depends on trust and security. Once confidence in communication systems declines, the consequences extend beyond telecommunications to commerce, finance and governance,” Folarin said.
Despite the challenges, stakeholders acknowledged ongoing efforts by telecom operators and fintech companies to strengthen fraud detection mechanisms and customer verification processes.
They called for greater collaboration among regulators, network providers, financial institutions and cybersecurity experts to combat spam-related threats and restore confidence in digital communication.
Analysts maintain that addressing the problem will require a combination of stronger regulations, technological innovation, improved digital literacy and tougher sanctions against offenders.
