by Nosa Eresoyen, Asaba

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says  that consumers of telecoms services in the country spent a colossal $6.6billion in 2016 to access services from the telcos, adding that the figure increased by a  billion over the $5.6billion  spent the previous year. 

 The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta who spoke to journalists  in Asaba during the official flag off of its declaration of the year as NCC’s year of consumers, explained that the commission, together with the regulator of the financial services sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has prevented the takeover of Etisalat by a consortium of Local lenders over an alleged loan of N200billion. 

 Prof. Danbatta reaffirmed commitment of the two regulators to ensure that the alleged N200billion loan default payment issue by Etisalat would be amicably resolved in the interest of the industry, and Etisalat’s over 20 million customers and the nation’s investment climate. 

 He disclosed that though the matter has not been resolved, he explained that negotiations will continue among all the parties, adding: “let me assure that there is no cause for alarm regarding the matter, the regulators are on top of the situation and details of the resolution would be made available within next couple of weeks”. 

 According to him, “the NCC and the CBN have to intervene particularly in a manner that business operations of all the parties involved and in the larger interest of the nation’s economy”. 

 He further disclosed that just as consumer’s patronage had remain important, the consumers must not and cannot be taken for granted, adding that NCC recognizes consumers’ importance hence it intends to inform and educate the consumers with the sole intent of protecting and empowering them to  make the right decision.