The SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) issues in
Nigeria had become a different Issue compare to other nations of the world. The
digital subscriber’s Networks in Nigeria were previously dealing with their
customers anyhow, tossing their lines as well as helping to exhaust their
recharged credits with unnecessary tricks as well as scams through text
messages. These activities were mostly common among MTN especially, until other
Networks like GLOBACOM, ETISALAT and Airtel started unfolding in the
communication scene, though their subscriber’s kept complaining to their head
offices; not until 2014 when Nigerian Communication Commission intervened and
started hosting Consumer’s programs with these TELECOMS Digital Subscribers
Networks. NCC first held their meeting in Enugu at Nodon Hotel Chime Avenue,
New Haven, Enugu in 2014, summoning all TELECOM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) Digital
Subscribers Networks like GLOBACOM, MTN, ETISALAT, AIRTEL ETC together with
their consumers. The program was organized by Consumers Affairs Bureau Department of Nigerian Communication
Commission. Their main aim was addressing the needs of GSM Networks consumers.
During the
program, series of questions were elicited from the attendants of the programs
concerning the common problem facing GSM Networks in Nigeria and their
subscriptions as well as entertained. Everyone that attended the program
received a piece of plain typeset sheet of papers to state his/her needs and
views concerning Network Subscription and activities, which they still
deliberated on some of the question elicited during the program. Based on the conclusions
during deliberation, NCC also sat down with the representatives of all the
TELECOM GSM Subscribers Network on the concluded answers to the needs of their
consumers. Some of these concluded rules and regulations one will find at NCC
Network at www.ncc.gov.ng/consumer. But yet all these do not solve the
problem.
Last 2 years
2015, I lost my phone, with my MTN SIM. Though, I have two phones, I was using
the second one, waiting to get a new phone and do the normal welcome Back of my
SIM number. To my greatest surprise getting to MTN Office, they told me that my
GSM number is no more available, that another person had taken my number. And I
ran mad, that was precisely three months after I lost my phone. I was highly
biased because the same number, I have used for series of online transactions
which I may not get in touch again without that number. This is number one key
point for the need to permanent GSM
Number in Nigeria just as Social
Security Number in the USA and INEC Permanent
Voter’s Card in Nigeria. GSM number should serve as a means to track
Criminals and fraudulent personalities. In the United States, your Social Security Number as a Citizen is
one of the things they will use to track down all your activities anywhere in
the world. So, this is not far from Nigerian, it is very easy since GSM
registration is already established by former Minister for information and
Communication LATE. PROF. DORA AKUNYILI.
The only thing is to permanent these registrations to individuals.
Also, because of these
recent recycling of unused registered GSM Numbers, the registration of GSM
became ineffective. Some android phone has the features that display the names
they used to register GSM in the Network’s Machines. Example I called one of my
friend’s number, my GSM SIM number was showing a different name as registered name
for the SIM number as well as different address , I have to go and rectify it.
I discovered that it was a general problem due to recycling of unused GSM SIM after
3 months. This is to show you that there is already confusion in GSM
registration in Nigeria.
Now, to solve
these issue, just as INEC Permanent
Voter’s Card and Local Government permanent
National Identity Card (Nigerian National ID Card) with your passports and
numbers; even if you did not use it for 50 years, it is your property. It will
be good that NCC will advise the GSM SIM numbers to be registered as permanent
identity communication number, so it will be easier to detect crimes and frauds
within the country Nigeria as well as in external world relationships online.
This will help to track down online fraudster and hackers who hacks foreign
banks account and individuals. It will also limit the fraudulent intentions
online.
But if they
neglect it, and the recycling continues, one will see that people who are
ignorant of these recycling will be duped in the near future; especially those
that does international business who uses different lines within and outside
the country. A man I met the same day told me His own ordeal with the same MTN.
This man travels out often, stays months and come back to Nigeria. This time he
travelled to Paris, and stayed six months, only to come back to Nigeria picked
his Set to make call, the line was not going and when he went to His Network
office i.e MTN office the same day I met him, they told him another person had
taken His number, he nearly fainted. While raking, he said if they had known
the millions he lost through that same number as a business man. He said it was
three much for him that day. Though, they searched for the number everywhere, it happened that another person far away
Northern part of Nigeria had taken the number, so he had no choice than to
accept the loss and get new SIM pack the same day. That means starting from the
scratch again to reconnect to lost business contacts.
In conclusion, I
advice Nigerian Communication Commission to look into consumers transactions
online and see the need to permanent GSM number to individuals for future crime
detection and tracking as well as prevention of criminal intentions in the
country Nigeria. Long lives Consumers; long lives Telecom Digital GSM
Subscribers Networks, Long lives Nigerian Communication Commission, Long lives
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Long Lives Nations of the Worlds.
News
Editor/Publisher
ONYIA EMEKA HEATH
+2348186388641
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