The Chairman, Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, has said Nigeria’s call tariff is still the cheapest in the world, especially when compared to countries like the United Kingdom (UK), Kenya and Ghana.
He stated this at the fourth quarterly event of Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) in Abuja recently.
Adebayo, who was represented by the Secretary of the Association, Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga, commended operators for their low tariffs, which give value for money. “I will say all over the world, Nigerian tariff is still the cheapest considering the kind of harsh operating ecosystem.
“When we are talking of tariff, I just wonder, when Nigerians compare us to UK, Kenya or Ghana. There, they have infrastructure on the ground, comprehensive and service direction. Adebayo said.
Adebayo argued that operators expend resources on maintaining the four networks instead of concentrating on their core technical competence of voice and data provision.
“Ten years ago when service providers started business, they were given tax waiver for five years and the intention was that within that five years power sector would have been reformed, but that has not been done up till now. Our equipment are constantly being vandalised and our generators stolen. We provide our security services across the country. All these are distractions and yet Nigerians want better service delivery,” Adebayo said..
According to him, the imposition ofmultiple taxation has also negatively impacted on the quality of service. He said: “imagine, we spend so much money on taxation, community issues, civil disturbances, these could restrict roll out which could have been used in upgrading the infrastructure which would have yielded positive result for all.
The ALTON boss partly attributed the low quality of service to subscribers who are not using approved handset device by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), adding that most devices bought from the road side cannot pass NCC approval test.
He said operators have also done their best in addressing complaints through the customers’ service spread across the country, adding that no consumers or subscribers have gone to operators to complain and they are not answered.
Source : Independent
