Date: 2017-05-12

Card retailers in Ilorin, Kwara State have expressed dissatisfaction over the recent directive by Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) warning against selling above approved price.

The retailers kicked against the policy, complaining of the minimal profit on sales of recharge cards.

The Manager of ACME superstores, Mrs. Diamond Nwankwo said retailers sell the recharge cards at loss "If NCC is saying customers shouldn't buy recharge cards above approved price, they should begin with franchise owners who sell to us.

Corroborating this, the CEO of Wasilat Communications Network, Mr. Ibrahim Kunle said the pricing by recharge card producers should be regulated for retailers to make profit.

He said, "Selling recharge cards is not highly profitable. We make gains of between N30 to N100 on a pack."

Mr. Felix Ajiboye who owns a GSM shop said," We buy MTN pack at N970, Etisalat N950, Airtel N945 and Glo N910, therefore if we sell at approved price, we will not make profit."

It would be recalled that NCC had ordered Nigerians to stop buying N100, N200 recharge cards for N110, N210, N510, N1010 among others.

The commission stressed that it is illegal for retailers of GSM recharge cards to sell above the approved prices, advising the subscribers to resist exploitation. The NCC South East Zonal Director in Enugu, Mrs. Emilia Nwokolo, who made this known during the 1st Consumer Conversation Forum held for subscribers and stakeholders in the Zone, exonerated telecom operators from such illegal act, and advised the customers to report those selling above the approved prices to the operators for necessary action.

Meanwhile, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) one of the largest networking company in Africa on Monday apologised to customers over poor service. The network sents message to its wider customers 'Dear Customer, we apologise for the difficulty you are currently experiencing using our internet services. Please bear with us while this is being resolved.'

Pilot Business observed that most subscribers in Kwara State had switched to other networks as a result of the development.