NCC Caution Communication Devices Dealers Against Selling unapproved devices
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has warned sellers of communication devices against the buying or selling of non-type approved devices.
The Commission gave the warning during a sensitisation programme at GSM Village Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), Dr. Emilia Nwokolo, who represented the Director Consumer Affairs, Mr. Alkassim Umar ,said there is a need to sensitise sellers at the market so they don’t get arrested for selling non-type approved devices.
“As you know this is the GSM village and they deal with all these devices, phones, laptops and others. And the essence of coming here is to sensitise them on the danger of selling non-Type approved devices. Normally in NCC, we approve the devices that can be sold in the Nigerian Market because some of them are substandard, so we don’t want the substandard devices to be in circulation in the market.
“So based on that, we need to sensitise them to know the danger of selling such Non-type approved devices,” he explained.
On how they can identify Non-type approved products and avoid sanctions from the NCC, she said; “First of all before you bring in telecoms devices, you have to seek approval from NCC so we have to check it and if it is okay, we go ahead and type approve it. There is already a fine actually if you are caught selling non-type approved devices.”
When asked on how often they apprehend those who violate the standard and the volume of non-Type approved products in the market? She said, “We are doing our bid to sensitize them but there are other departments in the NCC responsible, that go about doing the monitoring and the enforcement,” she said.
“The Commission in 2001 established the Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) with the Mandate to Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE) telecom consumers on their nights and privileges. The Bureau is the interface between telecom consumers and Service Providers.
“The PIE Mandate is to ensure the protection of the rights and interests of telecommunications consumers, including Persons Living with Disability and the Elderly through adequate information dissemination: programs, provision of different channels for consumers to seek redress for unresolved complaints by their Service Providers as well as effective policies and strategies that promote effective telecom service delivery,” She explained.
The Chairman of the GSM Village (Market) Abuja, Mr. Macdonald Ugochukwu Ajuogu, during an interview section with the Journalist said the market union has a taskforce that monitors the type and standard of devices sold in the market and that they also have measures in place to deal with any member who defaults.
“Normally, we have a platform in the market whereby anybody that deals with any phone or computer in the market is registered with the union and we also have a task force that always check on everything that is being done in the market.
“So, if there is anybody that is found wanting, the task force will always confiscate their goods. Although sometimes some of our members always cut corners, trying to do one or two things but we always advise them not to deal on non-type approved phones or laptops in the market,” Ajuogu stated.
He added that “we have a constitution that states that when you violate the standard you are either fined or you are suspended.”
