The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has just concluded the 84th Edition of the Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) today at the Multipurpose Hall of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
In keeping with the programme and spirit of the March 15 declaration of 2017 as the Year of Nigerian Telecom Consumer by the Management of NCC, this edition of COP was organized with a fitting thematic focus on Information and Education as Catalysts for Consumer Protection.
The Consumer Outreach Programme is one of the initiatives of the Commission designed to create campaigns and to heighten sensitization around key challenges of the telecom consumer, and to enlighten the consumer of his rights and privileges.
The NCC has rolled out series of programmes since the March 15 launch of Year of the Consumer campaigns focusing on protecting, informing and educating the telecom consumer.
Some of the campaigns pivoted on the need for telecom consumers to activate the DO NOT DISTURB 2442 Code to halt unsolicited telemarketing messages from operators and other content providers who ride the platform of Mobile Network Operators, MNOs; as well as the need for consumers to utilize the Toll Free Line 622 to lodge the second layer of complaints about unsatisfactory telecom services.
Other issues which forums like COP provide platform for their discourse and resolution include safety of location of telecom masts and towers, as well as the associated risks of Electromagnetic Fields radiation - matters that have generated a lot of misinformation and obfuscation of facts in the public sphere.
These and many other issues usually constitute the focus of ever lively debates and sometimes heated discussions at COPs including this edition, and the programmes are always well attend by all stakeholders including NCC, MNOs, consumers, journalists and other practitioners of communication, consumer advocacy groups and other enthusiasts. The 84th edition of COP featured all these stakeholders as well as students of the University of Abuja, especially those at Gwagwalada campus.