The Senate has frowned at the incessant and pathetic rate of dropped calls in the country and its effects on Nigerians.
This is expressed at a Public Hearing held by the Senate through Senate joint committee on Communications, and committee on Trade and Investment, and declared open by the Senate President on the increasing rate of dropped calls and other unwholesome practices by telecommunications network operators in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that Distinguished Senator Buhari AbdulFatai had on July 11,2019 sponsored a motion on rate of drop calls on the floor of the Senate and highlighted the difficulties Nigerians face on this disturbing trend. The motion was referred to the joint committees on communications and trade and investment.
While speaking at the public hearing as the sponsor of the motion at the public hearing, Senator Buhari AbdulFatai informed stakeholders in telecommunications industry the difficulties Nigerians experience with drop calls.
“About 16 years ago precisely November, 2004, as a member of House of Representives I moved a motion on the floor of the house on drop calls, everyone was invited and telecommunications operators stated they were working on some equipment and expecting others which would improved their services. When I became a Senator in the 8th Assembly, I also moved a motion on the same issue and we invited them all, they also promised but nothing happen. The situation is so pathetic and annoying. Your call has not gone through but money is gone. In advanced world, when you are calling and it drops, they credit your money back and if they failed to do that, you can sue them. Go to Ghana here, you would be happy to use MTN Ghana than using MTN Nigeria. I moved this motion because of what Nigerians are going through with drop calls.” He frowned.
In her remarks, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Oluremi Tinubu thanked Senator Buhari AbdulFatai for speaking for Nigerians. She said the motion moved by Senator Buhari AbdulFatai has given the senate opportunity to address this problem headlong.
Earlier while declaring the public hearing open, the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan pointed out drop calls shortchange Nigerians and charged Nigeria Communications Commission to sit up and perform their regulatory roles for the benefits of Nigeria and Nigerians. He charged the joint committee to use the public hearing to address the menace.
Stakeholders that attended the public hearing include the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigeria Communications Commission, Professor Danbatta, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Consumer Protection Commission, Galaxy Backbone, MTN, Globacom, Airtel, NITEL and 9mobile.
-Abiodun Amuda
