Second-hand and substandard mobile phones pose greater risks to users, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umaru Danbatta, stated this at the NCC special day in the ongoing 37th Kaduna International Trade Fair.
Danbatta, who was represented by Hajia Maryam Bayi, debunked insinuations that telecom facilities like masts and towers pose health hazards to residents around such facilities, saying cell phones pose greater health risks than masts.
While highlighting the numerous roles of NCC towards ensuring telecom subscribers get the best from providers, the telecoms regulatory agency said consumers must also play their roles to receive quality service.
According to him: “The use of substandard and counterfeit devices has been identified as one of the reasons for poor quality of service.
“Today, there are different types of handset in the market. Some of these devices have been used and dropped in the other parts of the world.
“Some are devices that did not meet international benchmarks for safety and other requirements.”
While noting second- hand devices pose health risk to users and degrade quality of service, he urged telecom consumers to be wary of the sources of telecom devices they use.