Date: 2019-09-03

The Nigeria Communications Commission has said that it is collaborating with security agencies and other stakeholders to put an end to the proliferation of fake and counterfeit phone products imported into the country.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta, stated this on Thursday while speaking at a stakeholders sensitisation programme on the 'Hazardous Effect of Non-Type Approved Handsets and E-Waste: impact on quality of services', held in Ilorin the Kwara state capital.

Represented by the Assistant Director, Zonal Operation of the commission, Mr Clement Omife, Danbatta said that the commission found it necessary to educate the general public on the effect of using non-type approved devices in the country.

Danbatta explained that the use of fake devices had negative impact on the quality of services members of the public got from fake equipment.

He said using of genuine handsets and other devices by members of the public would help prevent them from economic loss and contacting diseases associated with their use.

He said that the commission was also doing all within its powers to ensure that Nigerians were saved from the harzardous effects of using fake devices in the country.

He described the periodic sensitisation of consumers by NCC as part of the measures towards curbing the menace associated with the use of fake communications devices.

In his paper presentation titled 'Socio-economic effects of counterfeit devices' Mr Chukuma Nwaiwo of the Technical standard and Network Integrity Department of the NCC said the proliferation of fake products and devices had negative effects on both government and the general public.

He said consumers should beware of the fraud and other crimes associated with the patronage of fake devices and equipment.

Chukuma urged Nigerians to support the commission in its effort of ensure that fake and harzardous devices were prevented from coming into the country.