FCCPC’s airtime borrowing ban puts squeeze on poor Nigerians

By Sunday Ani

The recent ban on airtime borrowing short code, *303# service, by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has been generating reactions from Nigerians, particularly the young ones, who said the move was straining poor Nigerians.

The short code approved by the Nigerian Communication Commissions (NCC), which allows telco customers to borrow airtime and data with ease, has not worked for some days, a development young Nigerians initially blamed on the major network providers.

However, information circulating online shows that the FCCPC under the leadership of Tunji Bello, was behind the action as it instructed the telcos to shut down the service.
Checks revealed that the instruction to the telcos is that they should deal only with the FCCPC approved Airtime Credit Service (ACS) providers.

Nigerians are angry over the development because according to them, the FCCPC, which ordinarily should protect consumers, is the one behind what has caused so much pain to Nigerians. They also complained that consumers were not consulted or considered before the action and the telcos were not given any choice.

They are equally angry that the directive neither emanated from the NCC, which ordinarily should regulate the telcos nor the Ministry of Communications.

However, the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria LTD/GTE has obtained an interim injunction from the Federal High Court in Lagos restraining the FCCPC, whether by itself, officers, employees, agents or such other persons, howsoever named from enforcing, implementing and or otherwise giving effect to the enforcement and or implementation of the directive pending the hearing and final determination of the case.

“The *303# telco service is a life-saver for many. As there have been no complaints against the service, consumers are at a loss to understand why the FCCPC instructed that the service be discontinued. The current situation demands a thorough dissecting and review of the operational methods of the FCCPC with a view to making it more responsive to the demands of consumers as Nigerians vehemently demand restoration of telcos airtime borrowing service.

The FCCPC is throwing its weight around, playing games with regulation it should have no business with and forcing telcos to do their bidding. The telcos typically don’t want to get fined or be in the bad books of the government so many of them are complying against their wish,” the association stated.