How NCC Protects Telecom Consumers from Telemarketing, Cyber-crime, E-fraud

Umar Danbatta/

It gives us immense pleasure to be with you at this 2019 Lagos International Trade fair being organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI).

Our participation this year, once again, provides another opportunity for the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to interact with telecoms consumers, to listen to your concerns on telecoms service delivery in order to gain more insight into your perspective towards protecting them from less than satisfactory practices by the service providers.

Lagos State with a population of nearly 20 million people is unarguably the most economically important state of the country, and the nation’s largest urban centre. It is a major financial and commercial nerve centre of the country and would be the fifth largest economy in Africa, if it were a country. It is not surprising that it boasts of the largest consumer of Telecom services and little wonder it is popularly known as EKO FOR SHOW.

On this note, we warmly welcome you to the NCC Special Day at the 2019 Lagos International Trade Fair, specially organized to strategize with our consumers to seek and proffer solutions to various telecom issues confronting them.

Globally, telecommunication services are critical to the overall socio-economic well-being. Telecoms provides a technological foundation for societal communications and communication plays a central role in the fundamental operations of a society-from business to government to families. Telecommunication has opened up avenues for businesses to thrive and invariably grown the Nigerian economy extensively.

The NCC as the telecom regulator is aware that this feat of telecom being central to our daily life could not have been achieved without the consumers and as such identifies the Consumer as a very important Stakeholder in the Telecom industry. This is evident in the 8- point agenda of the Commission where the Empowerment and Protection of the consumers from unfair practices through availability of information and education to make informed choices in the use of ICT services is emphasized.

The Commission has adopted different strategies to reach out to our consumers. Participation at strategic international Trade fairs such as the one we are having here today, is one of them. International Trade fairs over the years, have served as viable platforms for reaching out to our teeming telecom Consumers. The Nigerian Communications Commission special day at the Trade fairs aims at educating and informing consumers on the use of Communication services and their rights as telecom Consumers.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the main thrust of why we are here today as this will offer us yet another opportunity to identify key challenges and quickly move to address them.

Permit me to state that one of the issues affecting telecoms consumers which the Commission has proffered concrete solution to, is the issue of telemarketing, commonly known as unsolicited text message. This is any message, voice or SMS made through Telecommunications service which is transmitted for the purpose of informing or soliciting or promoting any commercial transaction in relation to goods investments or services which a subscriber opts not to receive.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in order to protect subscribers from this unwholesome practice, evolved a solution called DO-NOT-DISTURB (DND) directing all Mobile Network Operators to dedicate a short code 2442 to enable subscribers take informed but independent decisions on what messages they wish to receive from their networks by typing STOP to 2442 to stop the messages completely or HELP to choose the message you want.

Cybercrime and e-fraud is another issue challenging the industry. This is any crime activity in which computers or networks are used as a tool, target or place. The Commission advices all consumers not to open emails not familiar to them, never to post personal identification information online or save your password online. Note also that your Bank will never ask you your personal detail via internet. In the event of any unfortunate circumstance please contact your bankers immediately to freeze your account and also inform your mobile service provider for further actions.

Also, the Commission has created a Toll-Free Number 622, as a second-level complaint redress mechanism, which allows consumers to escalate unresolved issues by their service providers to the Commission for effective resolutions. The toll free number can be reached daily between 8a.m – 8p.m. except on Sundays and national public holidays.

As a telecom consumer you deserve the right to get value for your investment. NCC as your regulator has devised ways to lodge your complaints when you are dissatisfied with the services provided by your Operator. The Commission will apply appropriate regulatory measures and sanctions against such service provider.

On this note, distinguished members of Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for being part of this year’s NCC special Day.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, delivered this address on the occasion of the NCC Day at the 2019 Lagos International Trade Fair.

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