The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is joining other regulatory bodies in Africa to combat the menace of fake and counterfeit Information and Communications Technology devices in the continent.
The regulatory bodies, according to the Nigeria’s telecom regulatory body are the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), West African Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) and Mobile and Wireless Forum (MWF).
NCC’s Director Zonal Operations, Amina Shehu disclosed this at a Stakeholders Sensitization Programme held today at Bwari, Abuja, on the hazardous effect of Non Type Approved Handsets on humans, Quality of Service and e-waste.
Shehu noted that the objectives o the collaboration is to promote interoperability between communications networks, ensure that communications equipment used in communications networks are safe and ensure that communication equipment used by communication networks are subject to limits on causing or being affected by electromagnetic radiations.
Other objectives are to promote the development of communication networks including the supply of communications equipment and identify applicable technical standards, including those promulgated by international bodies.
At the national level, Shehu said the Commission has put in place a robust type approval regulation which, amongst other things, seeks to discourage the use of counterfeit and substandard ICT products in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.”
She added that NCC is collaborating with other national stakeholders such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and other law enforcement agencies to fight the importation and circulation of substandard devices.