Again, telecom subscribers task NCC on unsolicited text messages

Speaking with Daily Trust in Abuja and Lagos, the subscribers blamed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its inability to call the operators to restrain the operators from sending unsolicited SMS to their subscribers. Asubscribers Tunde Aina  who said he uses the four networks told Daily Trust that “that all the networks are guilty of the […]

Speaking with Daily Trust in Abuja and Lagos, the subscribers blamed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its inability to call the operators to restrain the operators from sending unsolicited SMS to their subscribers.
 Asubscribers Tunde Aina  who said he uses the four networks told Daily Trust that “that all the networks are guilty of the unsolicited text messages which flow into the phones at unexpected hours telling him to text some information to certain number at no cost.”
He said NCC should rise to the occasion by checking these unwarranted text messages that disturb the subscribers. “The operators should be fined if what they are doing is contrary to the regulation of their operations in order to put a stop to it”, he said.
Another subscriber,  Idowu David lamented that his credit balance are sometimes depleted when this unsolicited SMS is sent to him. He called on NCC to put an end to it.
But the Director of Public Affair, Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC) Mr Tony Ojobo had in a reaction to the issue of unsolicited text messages last year said NCC was investigating the complaints received and had put some information on its website on it, while letters have been written to all the networks warning them about unsolicited text messages and limiting it to certain number of hours.
“All over the world telemarketing is part of the technology. You have telemarketing, unsolicited messages in the developed nations, even in the United State and United Kingdom. They still have it on their phones. What we are trying to say is that it varies from customer to customer, from network to network and we believe that the consumers should exercise their own right.
“Everything should not be left to the regulator alone, because in other climes if your privacy is invaded you can go to court. We have to test our laws. The consumers should be able to exercise their right because in developed countries somebody can go to court because of two dollars or 10 dollars. What we are saying is that if someone feels aggrieved they can actually begin to exercise their fundamental human right,” Ojobo said.