The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has urged telecommunication users to take advantage of the 2442 short code designed by the commission to stop unsolicited messages.
Danbatta gave the call at the 79th edition of the Telecommunication Consumer Parliament held in Abuja and was contained in a statement he personally signed.
The NCC Chairman explained that the 2442 short code was designed for consumers to regulate unsolicited text messages they receive.
According to Danbatta, the commission in a bid to ensure telecom users to take advantage of the short code, has put in “place programmes to inform, educate and protect” consumers.
The statement reads, “As a telecom Industry Regulator, the issue of Consumer protection is very paramount to us. This is because we believe the consumer is the king in the palace of market. In order to uphold this principle, the Commission puts in place various programs to inform, educate and protect the consumer of telecom services.
“One of such programme is Telecom Consumer Parliament. The forum provides a unique opportunity for tripartite meeting of the Regulator, Operator and Consumers (ROC) to discuss pressing issues affecting the industry in general and consumers specifically. The forum also affords a platform for the consumers to express their views freely and state their expectation from the regulator and the Service Providers.
“As we are aware, following the barrage of complaints on the menace of unsolicited messages, the commission swayed into action by mandating the activation of the 2442 short code to enable consumers control the types of messages they receive. I am glad that it has come into effect and I urge all consumers to take advantage of this new regime, by sending “stop to 2442” to avoid unsolicited messages.
“The Commission is quite aware that for this initiative to succeed there should be massive public awareness campaign by both the regulator and operating companies.
”It is in this regard that the theme of today’s parliament becomes relevant. The objective is to place the issue on the front burner of our discourse until unsolicited messages become a thing of the past.”
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