Emir canvasses protection for communication subscribers

The Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, has canvassed more protection for communication subscribers in Nigeria. 

Gambari, who is also the Chairman of Kwara State Traditional Council, said any unjust addition to the economic hardship of any Nigerian should not be contemplated. 

He spoke recently in Ilorin during the Consumers Conversation Forum organised by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

Represented by Ahmad Mohammed, the Daudu (district head) of ‘Fufu’, the Headquarters of Ilorin South Local Government Area (LGA) of the State, the Emir said: “The world over, modern communication system thrives in the area of positive usages. We should expect a similar thing here, especially under our much-cherished democratic governance. 

“But it is a pity here in Nigeria that some unscrupulous elements are using it against the larger population of our unsuspecting people. These innocent victims should be protected while the bad eggs should be exposed and face likely prosecution.”

However, he praised the efforts of the NCC for its enlightenment campaigns across the nation, urging the body to sustain the tempo of the drives until the entire subscribers understand their rights and protection under the communication system. 

For Prof. Umar Dambatta, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, subscribers should assist the providers protect installations across the nation for more efficient output. 

Dambatta, who was represented by Helen Obi, NCC’s Head of Zonal Operations, said vandalism of telecom installations and equipment remained one of the major challenges confronting the industry.

He said that both the telecom service providers and consumers are duty bound, as critical stakeholders, to genuinely contribute their quota toward ensuring the desired stability and improvement in the sector.

The NCC boss said the misconception about telecom antennas being hazardous to human as a result of radiation emission was far from the truth.

According to Dambatta, a lot of breakthrough has been achieved in regulating the radiation level of telecom antennas so as not to be harmful to human.

“A development that has been duly certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“These antennas are installed far atop telecom masts at a level that the amount of radiation being emitted has been largely reduced for human habitation.

“We are therefore using this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to inculcate the habit of safeguarding telecom installations rather than being subjected to unnecessary vandalisation,” he said.

Dambatta said the Consumer Conversation was designed in line with NCC’s 8-point agenda of educating, protecting and empowering consumers toward ensuring growth and development in the sector.

He urged telecom consumers who are dissatisfied with unsolicited messages from telecom providers to activate DO-NOT-DISTURB service on their mobile lines by sending “STOP” to 2442 short code.
Consumers that wish to receive promotional messages are also asked to send ‘help’ to the same short code of 2442 and choose from various options available.

He charged consumers to always lodge their complaints with their respective service providers for redress and to also dial NCC’s 622 toll free short code when dissatisfied with response received.