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Business
Sunday September 30, 2012
Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NCC urges telecoms consumers to protect their rights
Property Watch •For Lagos area as at Friday Sept. 28, 2012 A. Building materials Cement: Dangote Cement per bag of 50 kg.......N1,800 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg.......N1,800 Elephant Cement…………………N1,800 Sandcrete blocks 6 inches sandcrete block ..........N130 9 inches sandcrete block ..........N150 Sand Sand per tipper load .......... N12,000 Sharp sand (double) ..........N22,000 Gravel (single) ...................N18,000 Gravel (double) ..................N23,000 Granite ...............................N120,000 Reinforcement 8mm(153) pieces per ton (N125,000 10mm (153) pieces per ton .......... N135,000 12mm ............................................N161,000 16mm ........................................N172,000 20mm (53) pieces ....................N122,000
T
he Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah, on Friday urged telecommunications consumers in the country to protect their rights. Speaking at the first National Telecoms Subscribers Summit in Lagos, Juwah said they could do this by reporting to the appropriate authorities any unfair practice by the telecoms operators. The summit with the theme ‘’Nigerian Telecoms Revolution: Consumerism as the Last mile Challenge’’ was organised by the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS).
Represented by Mr. Tony Ojobo, the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Juwah urged the consumers to take advantage of the Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), established by the commission to protect their rights. “In a bid to implement this mandate, the commission established the Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) in September, 2001,” he said. He said that one of the commission’s mandates was to protect and promote the interest of consumers against unfair practices from their service providers. According to him, there is a paradigm shift from mere service provision to ensuring that
consumer satisfaction ranks highest in priority, in the provision of ICT goods and services. He added that the telecommunications umpire ensured that consumers were compensated when wrongfully billed or for loss of service. “The consumer occupies the central position in our scheme of things and comes top among all our stakeholders,” he said. Juwah said that NCC had developed a Consumer Web Portal, serving as an interactive avenue to disseminate information on its activities and initiatives toward achieving consumer protection. He said the portal was also to empower consumers and get
FCMB partners Lagos on renewable energy project
Wood Timber (hard) 1x1x12 ..........N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12 ..........N600 Timber (hard) 2x4x12 ..........N700
JOHNSON OKANLAWON
F
irst City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) has supported the Lagos State Electricity Board’s (LSEB) Renewable Energy Project by funding 2,500 rechargeable solar lamps for the state to distribute to school children.
Soft wood 2x2x12 ..........N250 2x3x12 ..........N300 Plywood 3x3x6-----------------N3,500 2x4x8-----------------N2,400 Roofing Sheet Corrugated iron sheet per bundle ...N10,000 Asbestos 4x8 per piece ..................N1,600 Asbestos (solo) ............................N1,100 B. Landed property Focus area: Lagos Mainland 1. Four bedroom detached house with BQ at Omole Phase 11, Kosofe -----N40m Estimated price in 5 years--------------N60m 2. 800 square metres at block 47 at Isheri North Estate, Lagos ---------- N6m Estimated price in 5 years----------------N15m 3. 6 bedroom wing of duplex plus BQ at Adeniyi Jones off Opebi, Lagos------- N55m Estimated price in 5 years----------------N100m 4. A land measuring 5.081 square metre at Ajasa, Ipaja, Lagos------------------------------N25m Estimated price in 5 years-----------------N50m 5. 2 nos bungalows on 800 square metres along Oba Akran, Lagos----------------N150m Estimated price in 5 years-----------------N250m 6. 1.12 acres of land with uncompleted building at Marwa Road, Satellite Town, Lagos---------------------------------------------------N1,5bn Estimated price in 5 years------------------N2bn 7. Uncompleted block of flats at Isheri -Osun, Lagos--------------------------------------------------N15m Estimated price in 5 years--------------N20m 8. Four bedroom duplex at Gbagada------N18m Estimated price in 5 years--------------------N30m 9. 8 nos of 3bedroom flats with BQ at Surulere, Lagos---------------------------------N80m Estimated price in 5 years--------------N100m 10. A detached house at Oke Ira, Ogba, Lagos--------------------------------------------------N22m Estimated price in 5 years--------------N35m •Compiled by Dayo Ayeyemi, E-mail: dayoayeyemi@yahoo.com
feedback from them on the performances of service providers as well as the commission. The President of NATCOMS, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, said that the aim of the advocacy group was to foster understanding of consumer issues among stakeholders in the industry. He said that NATCOMS had been monitoring and working with service providers on regular basis to ensure good quality service delivery. Ogunbanjo added that the association was charged with the responsibility of educating consumers on the protection of their rights and other telecoms issues.
L-R: General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN, Mrs. Oyeronke Oyetunde; President, National Telecommunications Subscribers, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo and Head, Quality Assurance/Training, Etisalat, Mr. Nwaje Jebunoh, during the first National PHOTO: NAN Telecoms Subscribers’ Summit in Lagos, on Friday.
OPS seeks waivers to Traffic Law in Lagos M embers of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Lagos State on Friday appealed to the state government to grant them concessions in the implementation of the new Lagos Traffic Law. They made the appeal at the Private Sector Stakeholders’Forum on the law, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Ikeja. The members, who contended that some provisions of the law were not favourable to their business, implored Gov. Babatunde Fashola to give them some waivers. The representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. John Aluya, said the restriction on the movement of articulated trucks, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., was a big threat to their operations.
He said, apart from the security risks trucks might face travelling at night, the poor illumination of most roads might also result in accidents and loss of consignments. “We, therefore, appeal that our trucks should be allowed to move between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the roads are mostly free,” he said. Presenting the position of courier companies on the law, the Managing Director of UPS, Mr. Ralph Ozuede, said the prescription of 200cc motorcycles for their operations was not convenient. According to him, 200cc motorcycles are not readily available in the country and cost about N1 million each. “We want the government to allow us some grace of between six months and one year to transit to the prescribed motorcycle capacity. As it is now, it
will be difficult for us to get the 200cc engines because they are very expensive,” he said. Equally, the representative of the Road Haulage Association of Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Umoni, argued that the ban on movement of trucks during the day could cause a lull in their operations as well as loss of jobs. Responding, Fashola said the traffic law, just like every other law, was not perfect and could be amended. He, however, said that some of their concerns were based on selfish reasons rather than for the common good, pointing out that the law was made for the prosperity of the state. “The way some of us do business in the state is not sustainable. We do business to affect others. We need to reconfigure our business models. Things are changing and we need to move fast,” he said.
Trade Fair: Exhibitors express optimism on patronage
E
xhibitors at the ongoing 7th Abuja International Trade Fair have expressed optimism that the level of patronage would improve as the 12-day fair progresses. The fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry,
Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) commenced on Sept. 27, at the J.T. Useni Trade Fair Centre, Airport Road in Abuja. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents at the venue on Saturday report that both local and
foreign exhibitors displayed their wares. An exhibitor from Ghana, Mr Henry Offor, who sells packaged natural foods, told NAN that the patronage would increase as the fair progresses.
The Lagos State Electricity Board’s Renewable Energy project aims at maximizing power supply through independent power projects (IPPs) and improving public lighting for the citizens of the state. A statement from the bank yesterday quoted the bank’s Group Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Kalu, as saying that the project is in line with the moral direction of giving back to society, “which we share with the Lagos State Government.” According to him, the rechargeable solar energy lamps will not only support the beneficiaries in their quest for knowledge, which will eventually lead many out of the vicious cycle of poverty, but provide opportunity for students to be introduced to the essential paradigm of renewable energy and environmental sustainability. The General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Mr. Damilola Ogunbiyi, noted that the provision of solar light bulbs to school children in the state by the bank would have a significant impact on their living conditions. He said, “Our aim in providing solar bulbs for school children is to enhance their efficiency and promote studying habits in them. We see FCMB as not only our bankers, but also as our energy development partners in this laudable initiative.”