NCC warns Nigerians against selling, buying of non-type approved, counterfeit devices

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has cautioned Nigerians against selling or purchasing non-type approved and counterfeit devices.

Speaking at the fifth edition of the commission’s Market Conversation held at the GSM Village, Wuse, Abuja, Director, Consumer Affairs, Mr. Akassim Umar, noted that NCC approves the devices that can be sold in the Nigerian market and does not want substandard devices to be in circulation in the market.

He explained that the Commission decided to hold the event at the market in order to sensitize both sellers and buyers on the dangers of selling such non-type approved and substandard devices.

He said: “You know this is the GSM village and they deal with all these devices – phones, laptops and others. The essence of coming here is to sensitize them on the danger of selling non-type approved devices.

“Normally in NCC, we approve the devices that can be sold in the Nigerian market because some of them are substandard. So, we don’t want the substandard devices to be in circulation in the market.

Umar, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Dr. Emilia Nwokoro, told the dealers that before bringing in telecoms devices into the country, they must seek and get approval from NCC.

Umar warned that the communication would arrest and sanction anyone caught selling non-type approved devices.

He stated that in line with international best practice and the Commission’s mandate to “promote and enhance public safety through the use of a particular number which shall be designated as the Universal Safety and Emergency Assistance Number for Telephone Services generally”, NCC has launched 27 active Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) across the Country.

In an interview with journalists, Chairman of the GSM Village Cell Phones and Accessories Dealers, Macdonald Ugochukwu Ajuogu, said that there was a platform in the market whereby all the dealers are registered with the union, adding that there is a task force that always check on everything that is being done in the market.

Ajuogu noted that when any of the members violates the standard, the person is either fined or suspended.

He said: “So, if it happens that somebody is selling a product either phone or computer because we also sell computers in GSM Village, we have members that also sell computers and if anybody is found wanting, the task force will always confiscate their goods. Although sometimes some of our members always cut corners, trying to do one or two things but we always advise them not to deal on non-type approved phones or laptops in the market.

“We don’t call it non-type approved phones in this market, we call it Chinco phones. So, we always advise them not to indulge in it. We want them to be sincere with their customers.”