News

Data Protection: We Ensure Consumer’s Voice Is Heard, Complaints Addressed – NCC

Published

3 years ago

March 16, 2023

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has revealed that it increased its capacity to handle type approval of devices as a result of the introduction of 5G-enabled devices.

The Commission also said it has intensified efforts to educate telecom consumers on the benefits of 5G, particularly as regards the higher speed of data.

Ayanbanji Ojo, Head of the Consumer Affairs Bureau in the Commission said this during his opening address at the 91st edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament, TCP, held on Thursday in Abuja.

The theme of the 91st edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament is ‘Data Depletion: Discussions on Various Perspectives’.

He noted that the Consumer Affairs Bureau is mandated by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to protect, inform and educate telecom consumers.

According to him, it is in line with this mandate that the Commission designed the TCP as a forum for the active exchange of ideas on how to mitigate salient issues affecting the consumers of telecom services in the country.

“At the beginning of the Parliament, it was a quarterly engagement that includes so many invited consumers, however, it has been redesigned to twice a year and limited to the Telecoms Regulator and Service Providers, the Consumer Advocacy Groups, and other relevant stakeholders,” he explained.

“This redesigned TCP has deepened the engagements for the benefit of telecom consumers.

“You may be pleased to know that following the 90th edition of the TCP which took place in Lagos last year with the theme “5G Technology: Opportunities and Challenges”, the Commission has increased its capacity to handle type approval of devices as a result of the introduction of 5G enabled devices and also intensified efforts to educate telecom consumers on the benefits of 5G, particularly as regards the higher speed of data.

He said the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the Commission has maintained a direct interface with telecom consumers through its various communication channels.

“Either as a result of data usage or consumption, consumers are steadily informing the Commission of their experience with the depletion of their data; a prevalent complaint in the wake of their recent migration to 4G/LTE technology,” he added.

“As a nation, we have struggled with the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown, which necessitated an upsurge in the use of data-enabled devices for communication whether for school, work, or social interaction.

“Our Mobile Network Operators have also had to upgrade their infrastructure to accommodate the extra pressure brought by streaming platforms necessary for consumers to work, for academic purposes, carry out business, and socialize.

“Amid these changes, and as consumers are adapting to the migration from 3G to 4G and now 5G technology, they are registering complaints regarding the unusual depletion of their data, which gives rise to the theme of our discussion today.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the consumer’s voice is heard and that their complaints are addressed by the relevant stakeholders.”

News

EPL: Arteta Gives Update On Havertz, Saliba, Gabriel, Others

Published

2 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has provided the latest update on four of his players ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Wednesday.

The four players are Kai Havertz, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Leandro Trossard.

Arteta’s side will host Brentford in a Premier League tie at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Arsenal head to the game following a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their last game over the weekend.

“Kai Havertz is still weeks away,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference as quoted by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday.

“We are all desperate to have him. I mean, it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team – his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside.

“Gabriel Magalhães is doing very well, but it will take weeks to see him back.

“For William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, hopefully it’s a matter of days.

“For Saliba, this one is very bizarre injury… but hopefully it will be a short time out.”

News

BREAKING: Tinubu Nominates New Defence Minister

Published

4 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, rtd, as the new Minister of Defence.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu disclosed Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday.

Musa served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.

He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.

News

Edo Govt Bars Journalists From Covering Event In State House

Published

4 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Journalists invited by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to cover the declaration of Edo as the official hosts of the 2026 NDDC Sports Festival were on Tuesday barred from covering the event inside the Government House in Benin City.

The journalists had sat at the venue of the event named Presidential Villa inside the Government House at around 11:00 a.m. for the official kick off of the event.

After waiting for over one hour in the Presidential Villa, information came that the venue for the event had been changed to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) office, prompting both the journalists, NDDC officials and other dignitaries to move from the Presidential Villa to the SSG office.

Not too long had both the journalists and other dignitaries seated at the conference hall of the SSG that one of the protocols of the governor popularly known as Pikolo arrived at the hall and announced that the government was informed that only 27 persons were invited for the programme, hence anyone whose name was not in the government list would not be allowed into to the programme when it commences.

A few minutes after Pikolo made the announcement, Chairman of the Edo State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Kehinde Osaigede stood up to announce that he had been sent a message that the venue had been changed to the initial venue (Presidential Villa).

Moving out of the SSG section of the Government House to the Presidential Villa, journalists came across the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, and when he saw them (journalists) he asked after exchanging pleasantries, “were you invited by the organisers? No, I will not allow you in, this is strictly for State House reporters. The governor is personally attending the programme, so it is strictly for the State House. Presidential Villa? No!”

Shortly after uttering the above words near the Deputy Governor’s section inside the Government House, Itua moved hurriedly to the Presidential Villa section and the gate was shot for screening of persons.

When journalists and others invited got to the gate of the Presidential Villa they were subjected to screening. While some dignitaries were screened in, some journalists and some staff members of the NDDC were shut out of the venue.