by crossriverwatch admin
The Cross River State Commissioner For Information, Chief Akin Ricketts has commended the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC for holding a one day interactive session between the various telecommunication network/service providers operating within Cross River and its’ environ and the general public which held recently in Calabar.
The Commissioner appealed to the service providers to improve on their services disclosing that in his native Ugep in Yakurr LGA, is it difficult to reply a mail. “We in a place like Ugep, it’s very difficult to reply an email. I have all the pads. Ipad, this one, that one; it doesn’t work. Sometimes my younger ones will tell me around 10pm the network will be better and at times you would find me strolling round for network and they will say just move small Chief you go soon get am”, he lamented.
Though he said he understands with the service providers because of the topography of the state, he lamented that jingles of some network providers are so deceptive that can easily lure undiscerning minds.
He said, “Some of their jingles make you believe that you can get service anywhere you go, another issue is that of dropped calls, when these things works, it help for simple information dissemination but we want more from you”.
The Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Dr. Femi Atoyebi who stood in for his Director, Mrs. Mariam Bayi, reiterated that the duty of NCC among others is to ensure that the right of all stakeholders not just consumers in the telecom business are protected, adding that with keen eyes, the commission watches to ensure that the consumers are not abused from any source.
He added that “Also we are to ensure that the public stay educated and informed about the happenings in the telecom business which is the crux behind the establishment of the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC”.
He said the commission has three tiers of outreach programs; telecom consumer parliament which is held in regional capitals, consumer outreach program which is held in some state capitals and urban/region centers across the six geo political zones of the country, and consumer town hall meetings”.
Dr. Okechukwu Itanye, the Executive Director Consumer and Stakeholders Management, NCC who spoke through Dr. Femi, Deputy Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, maintained that the event is aimed at bringing together the service providers, consumers and regulators on one platform to address consumer related issues and educate stakeholders and particularly the telecommunication service providers on contemporary issues generating attention in the industry at the commission.
He warned that irrespective of the fact that the broadband wave provides faster capacity to send and receive internet services it can be used for cyber crime, urging that it is imperative for all and sundry to be vigilant as it aims at giving them better service.
In a lecture themed “The Benefit of Broadband To the telecom Consumers”, Mr. Haru Alhassan, Head Technical Standard and Network Integrity, NCC defined broadband as high capacity transmission which uses wide range of frequencies to allow large users communicate simultaneously.
He listed some broadband applications to include: Tele medical, Tele working, E-government, distance learning, public safety and national security.
According to Alhassan, the benefits of broadband cuts across financial benefit, entertainment savings, educational benefits, voice communication, societal participation, informed electorate, and health care access.
The representatives of Glo, MTN, Airtel and Visafone were present.
follow us on twitter @crossriverwatch
Leave feedback about this