FG to Sanction Telcoms Firms over Unsubscribed Charges, Unsolicited Texts​

FG to Sanction Telcoms Firms over Unsubscribed Charges, Unsolicited Texts​

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, today threatened to impose severe sanctions on any telecommunications operator that is found fraudulently charging subscribers for plans or text message not subscribed to.

Shittu who expressed anger at the manner Nigerians are being defrauded by all telecoms operators made the disclosure in Abuja at the instance of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of MTN, Etisalat, Airtel and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta.

Shittu said his office was been inundated with complaints, petitions and calls on the fraudulent and unauthorized charges by all GSM operators across the country.

"Many Nigerians have been complaining of un-authourised charges or deduction for unsubscribed/unsolicited messages like Fun, Music Box and Sports messages charged by Etisalat, Hausa Amazing Fact service Charged by Glo, N50 charged for MTN Backup every two weeks, N50 for MTN Caller feel per month, Caller tunez, Easynews and Hollerback tones by Airtel among others,"  Shittu said.

The minister instructed NCC to properly monitor telecoms operators and prevent them from dubious charges for services not rendered, adding that the commission must furnish it with regular updates on monthly basis. He said any operator found violating the rules would be severely dealt with.

Shittu tasked all network operators to consider rolling over the monthly unused data by the subscribers to the new month. According to him, no operator should wipe out the unused data of any subscriber.