ISA Ali Patami, the minister of Communications and Digital Economy, sent many a subscriber’s heart fluttering, when he read out the riot act, with a deadline of five working days to boot: Telco networks must crash their data price; and the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), must see that it is done pronto!
That was more like it! — many a subscriber may have enthused. These days, data just appear to vanish, no sooner than they are loaded. Yes, the networks, across the board, ring out sweetheart data “yanfu-yanfu” din — sorry deals! But the deals are exactly what they are: empty din that promises much but delivers painfully little, like a mirage, in a scorching desert, to a thirsty throat!
At the end of the deadline, however, the minister’s definite order has suddenly turned hee-haw. A strong one-week deadline has morphed into indefinite huff and puff. The regulator and operators have been told to do a deal, not exactly at their own pace but at no definite time either. Meanwhile the customer, that complains of being ripped off, is for now, left on his own, after a dramatic splash of hope from virtual nowhere!
That certainly doesn’t look good, at least from the perspective of the subscriber. Still, a statement by Uwa Suleiman, the minister’s spokesperson, explained the latest development.
The NCC, according to Suleiman, had “assured the minister that it has been working assiduously round the clock to enforce the Federal Government’s directives and has requested the good graces of the minister to extend the deadline which expires today, 8th November 2019, to enable it properly re-strategize and fully implement long term solutions as directed, to the challenges.”
What a mouthful! So much formulaic verbiage, just to bring down data price? It would appear such a Herculean task!
Besides, it is rather amusing that the NCC, which appeared comfy with the situation, until the outrage from the minister, who came virtually yesterday, is asking for more time! Did subscriber cries ever reach the regulator? If they did, and NCC wasn’t moved enough to act, how can it be trusted to act with speed and despatch now? But maybe these are technical nitty-gritty that data-crunching plebs can’t understand?
No matter! The minister is in a gracious mood: “Dr. Patami,” reports the loyal Suleiman, “has graciously granted an extension with the understanding that the commission will resolve these issues within the shortest time possible.” Done deal!
Then, the parting kiss: “The minister hereby assures the general public that the current administration will neither tolerate acts of injustice nor the short-changing of its citizens, at it is working tirelessly to ensure that subscribers get full value for their money.”
Of course! But haven’t we heard all of this before?
Why does Hardball feel like hollering: subscriber, you are on your own, much in the same line as the ill-fated Steve Biko’s famous quote: “Blackman, you are on your own”, during those dark days of apartheid in South Africa?
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