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Trade Fair: Emir of Kano, others commend NCC on consumer-centric initiatives

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs of NCC, Representing Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO (3rd right); Mr. Efosa Idehen, Director of NCC Consumer Affairs Bureau; Dalhatu Abubakar, President of KACCIMA (2nd left); and Other Dignitaries on 'NCC Special Day' at 42nd Edition of Kano International Trade Fair 2021, in Kano State Photo: NCC

*Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission, assures stakeholders the telecoms sector regulator is committed to protecting and empowering consumers from unfair practices by service providers

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, other influential individuals as well as telecoms consumers have applauded the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) for the Commission’s various consumer-oriented programmes and initiatives in the country.

Alhaji Ado Bayero and other telecoms consumers, who participated in the ‘NCC Special Day’ at the recently-concluded 42nd Edition of the Kano International Trade Fair 2021, in Kano State, gave the commendation when they visited the NCC pavilion at the trade fair ground in the state in Northern Nigeria.

L-R: Abubakar, Idehen and Dr. Adinde

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, stated the Emir of Kano engaged the telecoms regulatory Commission’s staff at the NCC Pavilion while asking series of questions about the activities of NCC as they relate to service delivery.

RELATED 5G Tech: Danbatta Restates NCC’s Commitment To Broadband, Consumer Protection, Digital Economy

Bayero subsequently, commended Management of the Commission, led by Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), for being consumer-focused in their regulatory activities.

The royal father charged other regulatory organisations across the country to emulate NCC’s template of constantly creating platforms, leveraging different fora, and emplacing frameworks and initiatives to enhance consumer protection in their respective sectors which they supervise in Nigeria.

Similarly, the Commission noted Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar II, who is the Karaje in Kano State, was another eminent visitor to the NCC pavilion at the exhibition ground at the trade fair.

“Several other telecoms consumers also thronged the NCC’s Stand where representatives of various mobile networks, namely MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile were on hand to resolve all complaints referred to them by the Commission’s official at the pavilion.

“Aside from having their complaints resolved, the NCC officials also shared Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on various topical telecom issues to consumers both at the NCC Pavilion and, more importantly, at the ‘NCC Day’ event which held later in the afternoon of December 6, 2021,” the Director of Public Affairs said.

READ ALSO: NCC’s Policy Engagement With Stakeholders For Quality Consumer Experience, Says Danbatta

Earlier in his address to a large gathering of telecoms consumers at the NCC Day event, Prof. Danbatta, thanked the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), organisers of the Fair, for the constant invitation to NCC to leverage the trade fair platform as an avenue for engaging telecoms stakeholders, especially the consumers.

NCC will continue to protect consumers’ rights and privileges: Prof. Danbatta

The NCC EVC/CEO, represented by Dr. Adinde, Director of Public Affairs, spoke on the theme of the trade fair: “Consolidating the Challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic to Opportunities for Growth and Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria”.

A cross-section of participants in the event

Danbatta assured the participants that the Commission would continue to stimulate the increased access to digital infrastructure to support businesses and individuals, as well as constantly protect consumer rights and privileges in the ecosystem.

Telecommunications sector, he noted, has been a major driver of the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government, as it continues to provide the needed digital sinews that support the economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restriction periods, the EVC/CEO stated.

He also said: “Since the outbreak of the pandemic, government institutions, businesses and individuals have relied heavily on telecoms services to carry out their daily operations and official routines.

READ ALSO: Kano To Drive E-Governance, Digital Economy With Enhanced Capacity Building

“In response to the increased demand for telecoms services, the Commission put a number of regulatory measures in place to ensure seamless access by Nigerians to telecommunications services and protect them against any adverse impact on the quality of service enjoyed by consumers.”

According to Danbatta, the Commission continue to drive the remarkable digital transformation being witnessed in the Nigerian economy, an area that the Commission pays greater priority to is how consumers are treated by the service providers.

“This is why at NCC, we continue to treat consumers as Kings and Queens. Of course, that is who they are because without the consumer, both the regulator and the service providers have no business being in business,” he said.

Mr. Kunle Azeez of Public Affairs of NCC (left) and other guests on ‘NCC Special Day’ , at the trade fair in Kano

The NCC Chief reiterated the Commission’s commitment to protecting and empowering consumers, whether individuals and corporate consumers, from unfair practices willingly or unwillingly orchestrated by the service providers.

RELATED: Telecoms Regulator’s Central Mandate Is To Ensure Consumer Protection ─NCC

Danbatta further stated: “This is based on our regulatory mandate of ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services deserve to get value for their money, and to be treated right as very important stakeholders in the scheme of things.”

In his address on the occasion, Mr.  Efosa Idehen, Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) of NCC, also enlightened the telecoms consumers on various consumer-centric initiatives put in place by the Commission to protect their rights.

Idehen explained such initiatives include the NCC’s various channels of lodging complaints, the NCC toll-free Number 622, the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) short code 2442, and the NCC’s Emergency Number 112 among several other consumer-focused programmes.

Dalhatu Abubakar, President of KACCIMA, in his remarks at the event in Kano, also commended NCC for prioritising consumer protection in all that it does.

Abubakar said: “I commend you for your efforts in ensuring that telecoms continues to play a critical role in not only transforming the way people live, work and play, but also contribute significantly to the growth of Nigerian economy, as evidenced in the sector’s impressive contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

Telecoms consumers, who won various prizes in a raffle conducted to excite them at the event, also expressed appreciation to the Commission for being one of the leading public institutions championing the interest of the consumers in Nigeria.

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