NCC Begins Enforcement of N5 Million Fine over Unsolicited SMS from Network Operators

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it has commenced the enforcement of the Do Not Disturb (DND) code which ensures that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) would stop sending unsolicited messages to their respective subscribers.

 This was disclosed lately by Prof Umar Danbatta, the executive vice Chairman of NCC at a meeting with the academia on ITU Study Group participation held at Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja.

 He said the move became imperative because the NCC had given the operators enough time to comply with the regulatory directive and was now ready to enforce the N5 million fine meant for any breach of the NCC’s directive.

Prof Umar Danbatta said “We are at the stage of imposing the Do Not Disturb (DND) Code direction, meaning that any breach of this direction will attract a fine of N5 million.”

“If a consumer lodges complaint to NCC that a MNO sends unsolicited text messages and the complaint from the consumer gets to us, we will ensure that credit deducted from the consumers for this unsolicited text message is returned to the consumer and will also invoke provision of the fine on the MNO which is N5 million.”