Category: Consumer Watch

GOtv is by no means the first Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service provider in the country, but it was the first to announce a desire to assist in the country’s march towards digital migration. That intent was backed with action, which saw the DTT service provider launch the DVB-T2 decoders, the second-generation hardware approved by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as the standard for digital television broadcasting. The DVB-T2 technology delivers digital quality sound and a crystal clear picture, enhancing viewing. This was done as GOtv launched in October 2011.
What this means is that from inception, GOtv adopted the latest technology platform for broadcast.
This was followed by another pioneering move, which saw the provider becoming the first to carry audio channels with the launch of Wazobia FM and Naija FM.
The commitment to provide Nigerians with digital terrestrial television (DTT) services was further exhibited with the launch, in 2014, of a campaign to widen access to digital broadcasting by making it affordable. This manifested in a hefty decoder price slash.
In addition, GOtv became actively involved in raising awareness about the digital migration through its digital migration campaign, which had the slogan, Digilevelz Don Land, No Carry Last.
The campaign was in support of the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) digital migration flag-off in Jos and conceived to deliver the message of switch from analogue to digital platform to subscribers across the country.
The country’s march towards digital broadcasting, otherwise known as digital migration, began in June after it signed international and regional agreement with ITU to conclude digital migration by 17 June, 2012.
Towards this end, the Federal Government, in 2007, approved the process and in 2008, inaugurated a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
The committee submitted its report with several recommendations, which the government did not make public, a situation that caused the country to miss out on the 17 June, 2012, initial date for migration.
This forced a shift to 17 June, 2015, the reason for which the government inaugurated a 14-man Digiteam Nigeria. However, the process was hobbled by a for lack of funding.
Nigeria is currently working to complete the migration process by 20 June, something for which GOtv deserves enormous praise for leading the march and keeping the campaign alive.
Afolabi, a former broadcaster, writes from Jalingo

The telecommunication industry has been challenged to develop mobile applications not only in the English Language but also in Nigerian local dialects in order to grant rural consumers unhindered access to those applications and enrich their customer experience.

Speaking recently in Lagos at the stakeholders’ forum on the development of local content in the telecoms subsector, Engineer HaruAlhassan of the Nigeria Communications Commission [NCC] regretted that Nigeria was lacking local contents in the Telecom and called for improved development in the sector.

Engineer Alhassan, who represented the NCC Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Ms. FunlolaAkiode, said there was need to create awareness and make strategic business case for stakeholders to buy in and commit to local content development in the industry.

“Our expectation is your full buy-in, commitment and unflinching support of this laudable phase of our industry,” saidAkiode.

Advising the stakeholders in the telecom industry, she stressed that “local content development is not only important in your business success, it is fundamental to the sustainability of the industry and to the economic growth of the whole country.”

Collaborating on the need for the development of local content in telecom, Engineer OlusolaTeniola, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria [ATCON], said “developing mobile applications in local content is very apt now.”

Speaking exclusively with The Nation reporter, the ATCON president lamented that “at the moment we only have foreign-based applications in English, Chinese etcetera and unfortunately we pay for them in foreign currency encouraging capital flight.

“It is only right we develop applications in local dialect in order to, among other numerous benefits, offer the rural dwellers the good customer experience being enjoyed by subscribers that understand the English language,” adding that “If not, we cannot  capture and embrace those in the rural areas.”

He also urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of National Content (ONC) to draw a plan to comprehensively develop the ICT sector by implementing the guidelines on local content as well as building an ICT Park.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum on local content development in the telecommunication sector in Nigeria, Engineer Teniola noted that since the inauguration of ONC, there is little or no productive activity to drive the guidelines that were published. He urged the NCC and ONC to come up with short and long term plans that would enable the entire ICT ecosystem to know the area where they can invest their ‘investible’ funds.

According to him, it is obvious that the structure of Nigeria Telecommunications and ICT sector is not really beneficial to Nigeria as a country in terms of foreign exchange earnings because most of the inputs in the sector are imported from the developed countries.

“If we really want to pursue Nigerian local content development vigorously as a nation with the intention of increasing its impact on our revenue we must devise a means of producing those inputs locally,” he said.  While calling for speedy implementation of the plan, he said “NCC and ONC should as a matter of urgency implement the plan they have developed to increase the active participation of Nigerian content in the value chain of telecommunications business in Nigeria.”

Teniola called for creation of evaluation, monitoring and enforcement units. “The NCC and ONC should establish a joint evaluation, monitoring and enforcement department that would see to the adoption of development of Nigerian Content in the ICT and Telecom ecosystem.

“NCC and ONC should pool resources together for the establishment of ICT Park. The ICT Park would be given the mandate to encourage the production of some ICT inputs like switches, router, mobile phone repairs/assembly etcetera,” advised the ATCON president.

Delegates representing dozens of countries may be barred from participating by the United Nations (UN), as the world’s global health establishment will gather in New Delhi to consider new tobacco taxes and regulations that will impact nearly every country in the world.

The five-day meeting, which functions as an international parliament that makes decisions about tobacco control efforts, is billed for India from November 7-12 and could feature delegates from over 180 nations. The UN’s public health arm, the World Health Organisation, holds a tobacco control conference every two years through a sub-agency called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

To avert a compromised outcome, the FCTC hopes to ban certain “appointed and elected officials from executive, legislative and judicial branches” from the meeting.

In a document obtained from the FCTC, the organisers ask for support to “ensure the exclusion of representatives and officials from…fully or partially state-owned tobacco industries, including state tobacco monopolies.”

In the bid to assert independence, uphold public interest and equity, careful efforts will be made to exclude delegates with associations with tobacco production. it will almost certainly prohibit finance ministers, economic development secretaries, public health officials, and even presidents and prime ministers representing countries that operate state-owned tobacco growing or manufacturing operations, or engage in marketing and trade efforts.

Available statistics at the FTCT show that governments are responsible for over 40% of the world’s tobacco production, while many nations maintain tobacco research centres and fund promotional agencies to support tobacco exports.

Consequently, countries including China, Cuba, Egypt, Bulgaria, Thailand and the convention’s host country, India, may have a hard time having delegates approved to attend the event and vote on issues that impact their citizens.

The FCTC justifies this possible exclusion of countries who pay dues toward the event because representatives from tobacco-producing countries “may have prevented public health interests from prevailing in the policy discussions” at previous conferences, according to the document obtained from FCTC.

Blackballing participants and observers from its conference is nothing new for the FCTC. The FCTC has a long-standing mandate to prevent tobacco industry workers, including farmers, from attending. In fact, all possible negative influence of outcomes of the meeting against public interest, including the media,have a history of being thrown out of the conference.

Samsung galaxy Note 7 is still being sold in Lagos markets even as Samsung international has recalled the infamous phone from circulation because of the dangers associated with using it due to defective battery.

Though the parent company is yet to officially introduce the phone into the Nigerian market, the phone first entered the international market exactly on the 19th of last month.

Investigations by The Nation revealed that though the phone has not been introduced by Samsung into the country, importers, however, have imported the phone from Dubai and other countries into Nigeria.

The implication is that the ones imported into Nigeria offer no form of warranty in Nigeria while it offers a two years warranty in the country which it is manufactured for.

Disguising as a prospective buyer, this reporter went to Samsung Stall,Suit B2, Finet Communications, Awolowo House, 18, Awolowo Way, Ikeja, to demand for the phone.

Eagerly offering to take the supposed buyer into the computer village market to where she can acquire the phone, the Samsung sales representative, whom I will call Dele, even proposed to call one of the importers of the dodgy phone to see if he still has some in stock.

Briskly walking with the reporter into the market, they got to the first shop ‘DSCL’ on Otigba Street Ikeja. After exchanging pleasantries with the two sales ladies, Dele requested for Samsung Note7 phone.

The ladies, looking at the reporter apprehensively, admitted having the phone but explained it was not on display as it was being recalled from the market by the parent body.

Offering to make the phone available if the customer was ready to buy it at the going price of N350,000, they, however, warned that they were not going to be held responsible if anything untoward happened during the usage of the phone.

To that, the reporter sought more explanations and they said that Samsung International said that defective battery was causing the phone to explode but they assured that none of the customers who have bought from their shop has come back to complain about the phone.

Taking the undercover reporter to yet another shop where the phone is marketed, the Samsung sales rep tried his best to market the ill-reputed phone to the reporter he believed was ignorant about the defective galaxy Note7 phone.

To the amazement of the reporter, at the shop situated on Medical Rd. Ikeja, the shop owner after ascertaining the identity of the reporter from Dele went into an inner office and brought the phone out, emphasising the price of N350,000.

“But how can one pay for a phone without a Nigerian warranty for N350,000?” queried the reporter. “People are buying it and if it develops any fault, you know my shop, bring it back to me,” responded the shop owner. “Will I get my refund or have the phone replaced?” probed the reporter further. “Because the phone does not come with warranty, we shall repair it,”was the curt reply.

Probing further, the reporter asked the retailer about all the dangers associated with the phone. Without denying or confirming, the shop owner asked her to opt for Samsung Galaxy Note5 that has a two-year warranty and even sells cheaper at N227,500.

At Olowu Street, Ikeja, the story was the same. The ill-famed phone was being sold underground.  However, very big telephone and computer shops have none on display and are even denying ever importing or ever having sold any.

At Microstation Shopping Mall, located at No. 9, Otigba Street, Ikeja, the manager of the Samsung Mall, who identified himself as Jude Ogu, said the shop never had the phone in their possession.

“Yes, it is in this market but we never imported or even sold it as it does not come with Nigerian warranty because it did not enter the market through the right channel. We sell genuine Samsung phones which when they are introduced into the Nigerian market by the parent company will have two years warranty.”

At Pointek Shopping Mall on No. 6, Medical Road, Ikeja, all the Samsung sales reps refused to speak when the reporter divulged her true identity.

However, at the Samsung Office, located by Oshoppey Bus stop on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, the customer service officer explained that the company does not have any business recalling Samsung Note7 phones from its Nigerian customers because to the best of their knowledge it does not even exist here as the company is yet to launch and introduce the phone here.

“We are not aware of the ones being sold underground and cannot accept it from any aggrieved consumer. Anyone who bought it, did so at his/her own peril,” cautioned the lady who refused to disclose her name as she explained, “I am not in the position to speak officially for the company.”

An official of Samsung Electronic West Africa, Mr Zain Mamudu, had already said that the Samsung Galaxy Note7 has not been officially introduced into the Nigerian market.

Mamudu, who is Manager, Samsung Customer Service Centre in Abuja, told newsmen recently that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was slated to be introduced in the country in October.

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) issued a directive that the company should recall the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 within seven days. This development followed worldwide reports of dozens of the phone exploding while being charged due to fault in the battery.

However, a statement from the Samsung Electronics West Africa Ltd., which earlier announced the postponement of the launch, said that the devise was isolated due to battery cell problems.

“Although the Galaxy Note7 has not been released in Nigeria, the current Galaxy Note7 users are kindly advised to visit the nearest Samsung Authorised Service Centre for immediate assistance about replacement programme.

“We acknowledge the inconvenience this may have caused in the market, but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to Samsung customers. Samsung is completely committed to fixing this problem and ensuring the highest level of safety and satisfaction for its customers,” Samsung said.

A Samsung distributor of Mehdi Global Ltd, who requested not to be named, told pressmen that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was not supplied to the company or any of the company’s dealers. He, however, said that even if the phone got into the country, it was probably bought in Dubai or elsewhere because not all the units manufactured had problem.

The LG office at Lekki Phase 1 was a Mecca of sort last week as it played host to media men who converged to witness the unveiling of a range of new gas cooker by LG Electronics, the global leader in home appliances and consumer electronics.

Explaining the unique features of the new gas cooker, the General Manager, Home Appliances Division, LG, West Africa, Mr. Jiung Park who was visibly excited said that It comes with ‘Dual Heater’ that enables the grill and oven to work together at the same time allowing food to cook faster and evenly as no hassle is experienced in the process of turning food around.

This unique feature, said Mr. Park also makes food decoration remain same during and after cooking. With Cooling fan which circulates cool air and blow out hot air to lower the temperature of the door surface as well as the knobs.

The LG Gas cooker has two unique models- LF98V20S, 90cm and LF68V00S, 60cm that comes with avant-garde features aimed at enhancing cooking experience in households, enabling them enjoy tasty, easy and safe cooking.

Speaking further on the product, Park said, “The Gas cooker is an indispensable appliance in Contemporary kitchens; their popularity stems from the fact that they provide users ease of use and a better controlled environment for cooking delicious meals. It offers excellent cooking performance with some of its unique features such as dual heater which helps cook food evenly from top to bottom without turning it around.”

Easy cleaning is another distinguishing mark of the LG Cooker as it comes with a removable glass.  Users do not require any tool to take off the inner glass as this can be achieved by simply pulling the glass a little bit against the body and lifting it off.

Other key features of the LG Cooker are: Auto Ignition, High power burner, Cast pan support and extra storage compartment.

With the introduction of the LG Cooker, LG Electronics has indicated that it is committed to providing consumers with leading-edge products that will address their peculiar needs.