Consumer Protection: NCC renews MoU with Lottery Commission

*The Nigerian Communications Commission says the revised Memorandum of Understanding is designed to promote fair practices and protect telecoms consumers in relation to lottery and gaming activities in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Wednesday, January 18, 2023, in Abuja, FCT, signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

ConsumerConnect reports  the NCC disclosed the fresh MoU contains provisions to deter unapproved lottery and gaming practices on telecommunications platforms through information and intelligence sharing in the country.

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Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, stated Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Commission, noted the MoU, which will impact the gaming industry, is in sync with the telecoms sector regulator’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP).

The Commission also said the document was designed to promote fair practices in the industry and ensure the protection of telecoms consumers in relation to lottery and gaming activities.

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He said the collaboration is in line with the provisions of Commission’s SVP, 2021-2025, which provides for facilitation of strategic partnership and collaboration with other bodies to enhance service delivery.

He explained that “the initial MoU expired in 2022, amendments and modifications have been made since no MoU is cast in stone, especially given the industry’s dynamic nature.”

Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director-General of NLRC, expressed confidence that the MoU would yield favourable outcomes in curbing illegal online gambling as he hoped the NCC and NLRC would achieve their intentions in the interest of gaming stakeholders.

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Gbajabiamila also noted how unapproved lottery and gaming activities and practices undermine the integrity of domestic and global gaming markets to the detriment of stakeholders besides undermining consumer confidence in these markets, hence the collaboration with the Commission to arrest such tendencies.

Specific objectives of MoU

Earlier in his opening remarks on the occasion, Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), stated the MoU was designed to address recent technology information-sharing capabilities, and consumer satisfaction and to enhance areas of co-regulation in line with the Federal Government’s digital economy mandate.

The new MoU replaces one that was first signed by both organisations, which expired in 2022, said the Commission.

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It as well provides complementary approaches to deter unapproved lottery/gaming practices on telecommunications platforms through information and intelligence sharing.

The NCC noted this effort is in recognition of how unapproved lottery and gaming activities and practices undermine the integrity of domestic and global gaming markets to the detriment of stakeholders while undermining consumer confidence in these markets in the Nigerian economy.

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In the agreement, and following requests from NLRC, NCC stated it should endeavour to block or disable illegal lottery gaming operators on the telecommunications service providers’ platform in Nigeria.

According to the Commission, the document was developed by a Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), comprising representatives of NCC and NLRC to implement the MoU and other matters that promote collaboration between both organisations in their regulatory functions.

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