The recent directive by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should resolve the issues of illegal data deduction and ensure downward review of prices of data within five days is a most welcome development.
Applauding the directive, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) urged Nigerians to join forces with the Minister to ensure that this directive comes into fruition so that data prices would be commensurate with Nigeria’s huge population and high internet penetration.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke, BMO said it is on the same page with the Minister that prices of data in Nigeria are too high and that people are complaining of the high prices, stressing that now is the time for the NCC to resolve, once and for all, customers’ complaints about telecommunications operators.
BMO also urged operators to partner with NCC to work out acceptable modalities to arrive at a downward review of data prices for the benefit of all.
“We believe that easy access to data is key to the new knowledge economy. The demography of Nigeria with more than 60% of youth population has necessitated the need to create accessible environment for data, and any attempt to discourage the people, particularly the youth, from having an easy access to data through high prices will be denying the people of contributing their quota to the digital economy we so much desire.”
Besides the Minister’s demand for data reduction, BMO also called on the operators to improve their services for the maximum benefit of the people as Nigerians have been short-changed in the area of efficient service delivery.
While acknowledging the various challenges faced by the operators in the course of discharging their services to the public, BMO reminded the telecommunications operators of what they stand to benefit from the huge Nigeria market in the area of revenue generation.
