By Abdullai MohammedMichael
Bauchi
Stakeholders in Bauchi State have called on the Nigeria Communication Commission, (NCC) to sanction illegal service providers as parts of effort to tackle fraudulent and insecurity in the country.
The stakeholders who gave the charge at a 93rd Edition of Consumer Outreach Programme held on Thursday at the Zaranda Hotel in Bauchi, lamented that activities of some service providers were becoming worrisome because there is no law to regulate their actions.
The Consumer Outreach programme, which aimed at educating Telecom consumers on contemporary issues and generating interest, will serve as a feedback mechanism for NCC.
The programme drew participants, which included security agents, traditional and religious leaders, politicians, government officials and members of the public.
The Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Security Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC), Bauchi command, Okoh Phillip, at the event, decried the spate of kidnapping, robbing, frauds and other social vices in the country as a result of unsolicited text messages, adverts and unregistered phone numbers.
He said, “Some of high profile kidnappings, robbery and other fraudulent activities are carried out by some persons who use phones with unregistered numbers.
“Many people have fallen prey to this numbers, calling on them to trace their movements, accounts and their activities.
“Not everyone is lucky to escape these traps. It is so bad that these persons are good in mimicking people voices. They can also send unsolicited messages to people’s phones asking them to verify thier BVN numbers, account numbers and so on. We want NCC to monitor and sanction these illegal service providers” he said
Also, a traditional leader in the state, Haruna Umar, expressed worry over the spate of unsolicited messages on people’s phones, asking them of certain details about their activities.
He urged NCC to established an office in the state where they can register their complains.
In his address, the Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, Felicia Onweuegbuchulam, said that the commission has developed series of initiatives with aim of empowering consumers with appropriate information that will ensure that their rights are protected and choices provide them with value for money.
He said the initiatives include organising outreach programmes across the country and dissemination of consumer education via fact sheets information via social media.
Others, according to him, are responding to enquiries via NCC centre on a toll-free number and participating on radio programmes that educate consumers on rights and privileges.