Stakeholders seek stronger consumer protection in telecom policy review
Kola Oyelere Kano
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector have called for stronger consumer protection measures in the proposed review of the National Telecommunications Policy to address persistent challenges such as unexplained data depletion, network congestion and unclear billing systems.
The call was made during a public forum on the review of the policy held in Kano and convened by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).
Participants at the forum, including academics, civil society organisations and legal practitioners, deliberated on ways to ensure that the revised policy reflects current technological realities and addresses emerging issues in the telecommunications sector.
The policy under review was originally approved in 2000 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently initiated the review process, citing rapid technological developments and evolving market dynamics.
Stakeholders at the forum noted that many consumers continue to pay for poor quality services, including dropped calls and weak network signals, without adequate compensation from service providers.
They emphasised the need for strict monitoring of network performance to ensure subscribers receive value for their money.
Speaking at the event, a visually impaired participant, Aminu Hamza Fagge, highlighted the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing digital services.
According to him, assistive technologies required to access online information remain unaffordable for many.
“Many of us rely on assistive technologies to access online content, but a computer Braille device costs about five million naira, which most persons with disabilities cannot afford,” he said.
The Executive Director of CITAD, Y. Z. Ya’u, said Nigeria remains largely a technology-consuming country, noting that poor telecommunications services often force users to maintain multiple mobile lines.
He also pointed out that the high cost of data remains a major concern for many Nigerians.
“Data affordability is still a problem in Nigeria. Affordability means that the cost of data should not prevent people from meeting other important needs such as food,” Ya’u said.
He recommended updating policies on economic regulation, particularly in areas such as interconnection, infrastructure access, tariff regulation and sustainable market practices.
Ya’u further stressed the need for stronger privacy protection, noting that concerns about harassment and data security discourage some Nigerians from using the internet.
In his remarks, Prof. Suleiman Yardu’a, Director of BUK Radio and Television, said the revised policy should be forward-looking and capable of accommodating future technological developments.
He added that the telecommunications sector presents significant opportunities for job creation and contributes substantially to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
Participants at the forum also urged the deployment of digital technologies to address security challenges such as banditry, calling for stronger collaboration between the NCC and security agencies.
The NCC had earlier stated that rapid technological change and evolving market realities make the review of the National Telecommunications Policy necessary to keep the sector responsive and competitive.