Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, who spoke through Ismail Adedigba, Head Information and Reference at Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, tasked the consumers to take exposure to education on cybercrime very important, emphasising that only through education can they get necessary tips to protect themselves while online.
Adedigba noted that the theme: '‘Mitigating Effects of Cybercrime: The Role of the Consumer'’ has been chosen for all the COP editions for the year in order to underscore the important role telecoms consumers must play to be protected when using the Internet. He also affirmed that while cybercrime is a global trend, which is getting sophisticated by the day, consumers, who are the end-users of telecoms services, especially the Internet, must be armed with useful tips to be protected against prowling cyber criminals.
“Therefore, the theme of the event has been carefully chosen to sensitise telecom consumers to the rising waves of cybercrime in its various forms, the danger it poses and roles telecom consumers are expected to play," he said.
Corroborating Danbatta, Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, who also took time to educate the consumers on the menace of cybercrime at the event, emphasized that, aside sensitisation, the forum will help the Commission to generate feedback for making necessary regulatory interventions for the benefit of consumers.
Onwuegbuchulam noted that “one of the most effective ways to protect consumers from the effects of cybercrime in modern times where every activity and transaction is becoming digitised, is to continually educate consumers and make them aware of the various antics of cyber criminals who are devising new ways daily to cause harm to their victims.”
A complaints management desk was set up at the venue to resolve the complaints of participants and the participants also had opportunity to make enquiries from NCC officials as well as from representatives of MNOs.