The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja has become the first beneficiary of the Telecom Consumer Assistance, Resolution and Enquires (TELCARE) Centre, an initiative of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The centre unveiled at the Terminal C of the Airport is one of the series of events to mark the 2023 International Consumers Rights Day celebrated by the Commission in Abuja last week Wednesday.
According to NCC, the launch of the TELCARE, is the beginning of the helpdesk project expected to adorn some airports and other similar public locations across the country, explaining that the centre is one of NCC’s strategies for expanding the channels of engagement with telecom consumers.
Speaking on behalf of the commission at the launch, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, said the project is a deliberate effort by the Commission to amplify its commitment to promoting the interest of consumers using various engagement strategies and initiatives to protect, inform and educate telecom consumers.
While expressing gratitude to the Management of the Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN) for its support in ensuring the successful establishment of a TELCARE Desk at the airport, Akande reiterated that the platform would serve as an additional channel for consumers to make inquiries on consumer issues, allowing the Commission to provide advocacy on consumer concerns as well as create awareness regarding Commission’s activities.
The Commission, under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, has continued to re-engineer its strategies and structures to make them more effective to engage critical stakeholders to address unfair practices including but not limited to matters relating to tariffs.
In his goodwill message, the Regional General Manager, FAAN, Kabir Mohammed, said that the Management of FAAN was delighted to partner with the NCC on the initiative, as the passengers and airport users will have the opportunity to resolve issues bothering them while in transit.
Mohammed also noted that the first-hand interface with consumers would not only expedite the feedback mechanism in addressing telecom consumer issues but also curb unfair practices within the system and further bridge any communication gap between the consumers and its regulators.
Meanwhile, NCC’s Head of Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ayanbanji Ojo, speaking through the Head of Consumer Protection and Advocacy at NCC, Clem Omife, expressed optimism about the expected success of the initiative.
Ojo noted that many consumers transiting at the airport are already taking advantage of the Desk even before the launch of the TELCARE Desk, to make inquiries or lodge complaints.
“This is a pilot project, and the Commission will ensure that the TELCARE Desk is established in more strategic locations around the nation. We believe that through adequate education, information sharing, and the provision of layers of channels for complaints and redress, we can safeguard the interest of telecom consumers and innovatively promote the prospect of a more excellent consumer experience,” Ojo said.