The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has warned traders and other stakeholders about the negative consequences of selling and purchasing phones and telecommunications gadgets that are not type approved by the Commission.

The certification of telecom devices used in the telecom sector is one of the mandates of the NCC as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (2003) whose central objective is the “protection of the rights and interests of consumers”.

Non-type approved telecom devices are considered to be supplied to the Nigerian market from grey sources and are known to degrade quality of services in the network.

Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Dr. Emilia Nwokoro, who spoke for the Executive Vice of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, at the 5th edition of Market Conversation, a telecom consumer outreach programme of NCC, which took place recently at the GSM Village in Abuja, said the event was part of the sensitization efforts of the Commission to address the issue.

She said there is a need to sensitise traders at the market about the implications of trading in substandard products as they may face the risk of arrest and prosecution when found selling non-type approved devices.

“The essence of coming here today is to enlighten the traders on the dangers of selling non-type-approved devices. The NCC established procedures for certifying telecom products sellable and usable in Nigeria, and that explains the Commission’s efforts to raise awareness to ensure that substandard products are not circulated in any market in Nigeria,” she said.

She informed them that the procedure for approval of telecom devices has been established by the Commission, and all type approved devices have been published on the NCC website for public and user reference. Therefore, traders should take advantage of this information to identify type approved against none type approved phone devices.

The Chairman, GSM Village Market, Abuja, Macdonald Ajuogu, said the market union has a task force that monitors the types and standards of devices sold there, and that the association has also put measures in place to deal with any member that goes against their rules.

“Normally, we have a platform in the market whereby anybody that deals with any phone in the market is registered with the union and we also have a task force that always checks on any product that is being sold in the market, including computers that are sold in the GSM village.

Ajuogu thanked the NCC for devoting time to come and sensitise the traders not to sell or purchase non-type approved devices and promised that the traders would strive to abide by the prescriptions of the commission by cross checking with the NCC’s list of certified and type approved devices to avoid being sanctioned.

The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to some misleading comments on social media which falsely claimed that “MAFAB Communications, one of the companies granted Fifth Generation (5G) licences by the Commission is yet to roll out the service, nearly two years after obtaining a licence, and one year after the roll-out date.”

For a fact, MAFAB Communications is one of the two successful companies that won a 5G Licence during the globally-acclaimed transparent 5G Auction conducted by the Commission on December 13, 2021. 

Upon fulfilling the condition of payment for the fee of $273.6 million in February 2022, the company formally received the licence on February 22, 2022.

Consequent upon the issuance of the 5G licence, and in line with the rollout conditions, MAFAB publicly launched its services in Abuja on January 24, 2023, and in Lagos on January 26, 2023. At launch, the services were targeted at six cities – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna.

The Commission has continued to monitor the progress of rollout by MAFAB and has been regularly briefed about the status of infrastructure deployment for service offerings as conditioned in its operating licence.

The public and all stakeholders should ignore the false and misleading information concerning the 5G rollout by MAFAB. 

Reuben Muoka 

Director Public Affairs 

August 2, 2023

From Left: Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission and Dr. Dasuki Arabi, Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reform, during the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony to strengthen collaborations between the agencies at the NCC’s Head Office in Abuja recently.

For a start, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta and the Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr. Dasuki Arabi have penned a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly work towards accelerating the digitisation reform process in government.

Speaking at the event, which took place at the NCC’s Head Office in Abuja recently, Danbatta said collaboration between the two organisations is consistent with NCC’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) to partner and collaborate with relevant stakeholders.

He noted that the MoU will enhance efficiency and productivity as it adequately captured the roles of enabling policies and implementing institutions, which are key features of digital transformation.

He also said the Commission will continue to drive broadband penetration, which provides the backbone upon which such process will thrive.

According him, “it is for this reason that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan document, made adequate provisions for the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the country. It is this same infrastructure that will drive services that will result in the transformation of governance as well as the key services sector in the economy,” he said.

Danbatta said at the completion of the process, governance will be paperless, chief executive officers would be able to deal with their mails without necessarily signing most things offline because virtually everything will be done online.

“Indeed, the transition will be worth it, as the process is associated with efficiency, which naturally results from operating a paperless system of governance or administration at the level of entities such as the Bureau for Public Service Reforms and the Nigerian Communications Commission,” he said.

“We attach a lot of importance to the way and manner we collaborate with sister agencies of government to give translation or to ensure the actualisation of that important item of our Strategic Vision Plan that is strategic collaboration and partnership, it explains why we are signing this Memorandum of Understanding.

In his response, Arabi revealed that the Bureau took the decision to work with the Commission in driving the reforms for the adoption of emerging technologies as a result of NCC’s emergence as the first organisation to win the Platinum Award of BPSR, exceeding expectations in the way it conducts its businesses.

“Historically speaking, this partnership had begun in 2016 when the Commission became the first agency of government to undergo the BPSR online Self-Assessment Tool (SAT). Remarkably, at the end of the assessment, NCC emerged as the first agency to be rated Platinum Organisation by the Tool, having exceptionally exceeded expectations in all good practices built around nine domain areas” Dasuki stated.

Underscoring his submission, Arabi said: “Given the successful outcomes of the workshops and conferences NCC organised in collaboration with BPSR on the Distributed Ledger Technologies (the Blockchain) in 2022 in Lagos and Abuja, the MoU is providing a window of opportunity to consolidate efforts to deliver strong and resilient public service that will lead a well-functioning federal system wherein zero tolerance for corruption is made practicable.

“The MoU will also help in fostering of a high degree of cooperation between Federal and State governments in improving service delivery and addressing Transparency International Corruption Perception Index to significantly improved safe and secured environment that encourages economic growth and investment.”

Arabi said that efforts to improve equitable and unhindered access to government information and services through the Federal Government’s Scorecard for ranking websites of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are producing a direct impact on the socio-economic development of the country.

L-R: John Odeyemi, Chairman, Board of Trustees and past President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President & Chairman of Council, LCCI; Alkasim Umar, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Gabriel Idahosa, Deputy President, LCCI; Prof. Muhammed Abubakar, Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone Limited and  Leye Kupoluyi, Vice President, LCCI, during the 9th edition of the Information, Communication Technology and Telecommunications (ICTEL) Expo hosted by LCCI in Lagos.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has advised businesses to adjust to the potentials of disruptive technologies which have been adopted across the globe for enhanced productivity and sustainability.

He told industry leaders and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovators, who gathered at the 2023 edition of the Information, Communication, Technology and Telecommunications (ICTEL) expo organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, that advancements made in the global ICT industry have become business and enhancing.

Danbatta, who was represented by the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau at the Commission, Mr. Alkasim Umar, said technology has always played a significant role in shaping the world people live in. He, however, said that in recent years, advancements have accelerated at an unprecedented rate.

The NCC helmsman said as the world grapples with the 4th Industrial Revolution driven by the Internet, advancements in many facets of ICTs, are fundamentally changing all aspects of people’s lives and reshaping economic, social and cultural paradigms across the world.

He listed such disruptive technologies to include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain Technology, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Fifth Generation (5G) and other emerging technologies which have demonstrated the potential of transforming industries and business models.

“Today, we find ourselves amid a digital revolution, where the boundaries between physical and virtual worlds are blurring.  So, as we navigate the era of tech disruptions, it is crucial for businesses to embrace innovation and adapt to the changing landscape. Companies that are agile and willing to experiment with these emerging technologies will gain a competitive advantage in their respective industries,” Danbatta said.

The NCC CEO further assured that the NCC’s strategic management plan represents the Commission’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to transform industries and drive positive change. “By embracing tech disruption, we are empowering individuals, businesses, and communities to thrive in the digital age. Together, let us build a Nigeria where technology is a catalyst for inclusive growth, innovation flourishes, and the benefits of connectivity reach every Nigerian,” the EVC said.

President of LCCI, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, who appreciated the Commission’s efforts in providing a predictable telecom regulatory environment, noted that the theme of this year’s edition of the ICTEL Expo had been carefully chosen considering the far-reaching impact disruptive technologies are having on businesses around the world.

NCC’s Zonal Controller, Lagos, Engr. Yomi Arowosafe, who was part of the team to the well-attended ICT Expo, received an LCCI Appreciation Award presented to Prof. Danbatta, by the Vice President of LCCI, Leye Kupoluyi, in recognition of Danbatta’s contribution towards the success of the 2023 ICTEL Expo held on July 25 – 26, 2023 in Lagos.

The Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Mustapha, has commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on a range of its telecom consumer protection initiatives, including the recent Village Square Dialogue (VSD), which held at the weekend in Yola, Adamawa State.

Kakakin Adamawa, Prof. Abubakar Tahir, who represented Lamido Adamawa at the Consumer Conversation programme of the Commission with the theme: “Know Your Rights as Telecom Consumers” in Yola, said the event marked a privilege for individual telecom consumers and businesses in the state to ask questions and get face-to-face response from the regulator on telecom-related issues.

“We must commend the NCC for the great work it has been doing in the area of consumer education and enlightenment. Aside from being the regulator of the sector, the NCC leadership has taken the issue of consumer information very central; and we thank you for bringing this laudable initiative to the good people of Adamawa,” he said.

The royal father advised the Commission to also consider exploring other areas that can lead to further reduction in the cost of telecom services and to ensure that services are available in most parts of the country.

“The Commission should kindly look inwards and ensure that all communities in the country continue to enjoy cheaper, better, qualitative and more accessible telecommunications services,” he said.

NCC’s Director of Consumer Affairs, Alkasim Umar, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the regulator has always been at the forefront of ensuring maximum protection for telecom consumers while providing the enabling environment for the licensed service providers to be able to provide good quality of service to the consumers.

“The NCC remains committed to its mandate of protecting, informing and educating consumers of telecoms services across all the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This essence of the Village Square Dialogue, as one of our outreach events, is to provide a face-to-face interaction among the NCC, the service providers and the consumers,” Umar said.

Speaking on some of the consumer-centric initiatives of the Commission, Umar said the Commission recently introduced the harmonised short codes which provide uniform codes for telecom consumers to access any consumer service type across all networks, either for airtime loading, checking airtime balance, call centres, data plan balance, and so on.

He also reminded the consumers of the availability of the NCC Toll-Free Number, 622, which consumers can use to make complaints to the Commission on any telecom service-related issues they may be having with their service providers; the 112 Emergency Number to seek succour during emergencies, as well as the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 Short Code to block unsolicited messages.

“Information and education are key to the empowerment of telecom consumers. The protection of the rights and interests of telecom consumers is one of the mandates of the Commission, as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003. When telecom consumers are duly informed and educated, they are protected against the unfair practices by the service providers,” Umar said.

Speaking further, Umar said everything in the current digital world revolves around telecommunications services and that educating consumers plays an important role in informing them, clarifying issues, and empowering them through information and enlightenment.

“So, it is a great decision which will sensitise the people about their rights, their privileges and the expectations they have about the telecom businesses in the country,” he added.

Kano State is about to witness a groundbreaking transformation in the digital landscape as Smile Communications, a renowned telecom provider, launches its SuperFast Internet Services in the region.

Following the success of its Voice services earlier this year, Smile is now poised to revolutionise the internet and data services sector with its comprehensive bouquet of products and services. The arrival of Smile in Kano comes at a time when the demand for reliable and high-speed internet services is on the rise, promising an exciting and unparalleled experience for the citizens of Kano State

With its launch in Kano, Smile Communications is introducing a range of cutting-edge products designed to meet the diverse needs of the population. From SMiFis to Routers and Dongles, Smile offers a versatile selection of devices that cater to various connectivity preferences. Moreover, Smile has gone the extra mile by providing a physical FREE SIM card that can be utilized on 4G LTE-enabled smartphones. With a monthly subscription of just N5000, users can enjoy unlimited smartphone data, granting them AlwaysOn non-stop access to the digital world.

Smile Communications prides itself on being the provider of unlimited AlwaysOn non-stop data. The Chief Marketing Officer Abdul Hafeez says “By offering reliable and uninterrupted internet connectivity, Smile will ensure that Kano citizens can seamlessly browse, work, connect, and indulge in online activities without constraints. This commitment to reliability is coupled with affordable pricing, making Smile’s services accessible to a wide range of individuals, including students, businessmen and women, artisans, housewives, and young upwardly mobile youths.

To facilitate easy access and patronage, Smile Communications has established numerous customer centers across Kano. These centers serve as one-stop destinations for citizens to discover, inquire about, and acquire Smile’s products and services. By bringing Smile closer to the people, the telecom provider is not only promoting convenience but also fostering a strong bond with its customers

Industry experts have anticipated Smile’s steady growth in Kano, given the city’s development and growing digital needs. However, the level of patronage and love that Smile has already received in Kano is nothing short of extraordinary. Citizens from all walks of life have enthusiastically embraced the brand, recognising the value it brings to their online experiences. This overwhelming response is a testament to Smile’s commitment to delivering exceptional connectivity and its ability to meet the demands of a tech-savvy population

With the launch of Smile Communications’ SuperFast Internet Services, Kano State is on the brink of a digital revolution. Smile’s dedication to providing reliable, unlimited, and affordable internet connectivity is set to enhance the lives of students, entrepreneurs, professionals, and every Kano citizen who depends on the internet for various purposes. As Smile opens its doors in Kano, the city is poised to experience a wave of excitement and a new era of digital empowerment.