NCC Warns Against Non-type Approved Devices, Intensifies Sanctions

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned the Nigerian telecom consumers about the dangers of selling and purchasing Non-Type Approved telecoms devices such as cell phones, laptops and others, stressing that sanctions will be intensified on such substandard products.

The Non-type Approved devices are those telecom devices that are of substandard quality and in Nigeria one of the mandates of the Commission as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act NCA (2003) is the “Protection of the rights and interests of consumers.

The director Consumer Affairs Bureau in the Commission Mr. Akassim Umar gave this warning during a sensitization workshop organised for service consumers at the GMS Village in Abuja on Thursday with the theme “The Dangers of Selling/Purchasing Non-type Approved Devices.”

Represented by deputy director Consumer Affairs Bureau, Dr. Emilia Nwokolo, the commission also translated the message to the fractured pidgin as “Shey you know say damage dey if you sell/buy Non-type Approved Devices.”

The Commission in 2001 established the Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) with the Mandate to Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE) telecom consumers on their nights and privileges. The Bureau is the interface between telecom consumers and Service Providers.

In an interview with reporters, Dr. Nwokolo said “as you know this is the GSM village and they deal with all these devices, phones, laptops and others. And the essence of coming here is to sensitise them on the danger of selling Non-Type approved devices. Normally in NCC, we approve the devices that can be sold in the Nigerian market because some of them are substandard, so we don’t want the substandard devices to be in circulation in the market.”

On how the consumers can identify the Non-type approved devices, Dr. Nwokolo said “First of all before you bring in telecoms devices, you have to seek approval from NCC so we have to check it and if it is okay, we go ahead and type approved it.”

She noted that there is already a fine for those that will be caught selling Non-type approved devices, adding that there are departments in the NCC responsible for monitoring and enforcement of sanctions.

Following its consumer-centric initiatives, the NCC has provided toll free line-622 for consumers to contact the commission for Complaints/Enquiries. It is free of charge and available between 8:00am to 8:00pm daily except on Sundays and National Public Holidays.

Also speaking to reporters, Chairman of the Cell Phone and Accessories Dealers of the GMS Market, Macdonald Ugochukwu Ajuogu, said his union has a platform in the market whereby anybody that deals with any phone in the market is registered with the union. He added that they also have a task force that always checks on everything that is being done in the market.

He said “so, if it happens that somebody is selling a product either phone or computer because we also have members that deal on computers, the task force always monitors the proper distribution of these goods in this market.

“So, if there is anybody that is found wanting, the task force will always confiscate their goods. Although sometimes some of our members always cut corners, trying to do one or two things, we always advise them not to deal on non-type approved phones or laptops in the market. We don’t call them non-type approved phones in this market; we call them ‘Chinco phones.’ So, we always advise them not to indulge in it, we want them to be sincere with their customers.

“We have a constitution that states that when you violate the standard you are either fined or you are suspended.”