The Consumer Conversation forum, the zone's first in 2019, held in Zaria. Discussions at the Conversation focused on the use of NCC Toll Free line, 622; Do Not Disturb code 2442; Quality of Service; Mobile Number Portability; and Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation.
At the Sensitization Programme held in Katsina, the focus was on the need to protect telecoms infrastructure. Traditional and community leaders, personnel in the security services and many citizens.
Shuaibu Swade, Controller Kano Zonal Office of NCC, used the forum to educate the community about base stations and misinformation about health hazards reportedly associated with telecom masts and base stations.
Also the Kano Zonal Office organised an awareness campaign on E-waste and type approval of equipment. The programme which held in Gombe some days ago enlightened citizens about electronic waste and need to be thoughtful in generating that category of waste and their disposal. Swade and his deputy, Abubakar Kurfi, Principal Manager Kano Zonal Office, amplified the voice of the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta in noting that electronic waste is now the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, and this gives cause for worry because e-waste is non-biodegradable. Swade and Kurfi also told participants at the fora to always use devices approved by the NCC which are available on the Commission's website. Electronic wastes are irreparable and/or obsolete electronic items and devices.
Consumer Conversation is one of the consumer engagement programmes instituted by the NCC to keep consumers abreast of developments in the sector. A programme designed for smaller groups or cells of consumer, the Conversation is the only one among consumer engagement fora of the NCC within the purview of Zonal Operations department. Others such as Telecom Consumer Parliament, Consumer Outreach Programme, and Consumer Town Hall Meeting are responsibilities of the NCC's Consumer Affairs Bureau.
The Zonal Operations department of NCC organises (through NCC Zonal Offices) the Conversation and other enlightenment programmes to engage the telecoms consumers and citizens on emerging issues and challenges in the telecoms environment.