NCC worries about telecoms consumers’ low activation of ‘2442’ code

Danbatta said in a statement in Lagos on Saturday
that in spite of complaints by consumers of
receiving unsolicited Short Messaging Services, only
few had activated the 2442 code
Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice-
Chairman of the Nigerian Communications
Commission, says majority of
telecommunications companies’ customers have
yet to activate the 2442 Do Not Disturb Code.
Danbatta said in a statement in Lagos on
Saturday that in spite of complaints by
consumers of receiving unsolicited Short
Messaging Services, only few had activated the
2442 code.
He said the directive of NCC was an intervention
to stop unwanted messages and calls from
telemarketing companies riding on the crest of
telecommunications infrastructure.
According to him, the directive is a regulatory
response to the yearnings of the subscribers for
protection against the nuisance of unsolicited
messages.
Danbatta noted that there were a number of
initiatives of NCC designed to address the
challenges of telecommunications consumers,
but regretted that subscribers were not utilising
them adequately.
The NCC boss also advised consumers to use
the toll-free line ‘112’ for emergencies and
another toll-free number ‘622’ for complaints
about telecommunications service providers.
He said the commission had directed the
operators to dedicate a common Short Code
(2442) to enable subscribers to take informed
decisions.
According to Danbata, the commission took
cognizance of the broad range of services of the
service providers, which included Banking/
Insurance/Financial Products, Real Estate,
Education, Health, Consumer Goods and
Automobiles in taking the decision.
Others services were Communication/
Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT, Tourism and
leisure, Sports, Religion (Christianity, Islam),
among others.
Danbatta added in the statement: “Hence, the
commission directed the operators to give the
necessary instructions and clarifications that will
enable subscribers subscribe to a particular
service/services or to none.
“In fact, a full DND which is to SMS ‘STOP’ to
2442, does not allow the subscriber to receive
any unsolicited message from the operators at
all.
Alabatvnews.