WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR,
CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUREAU, NIGERIAN
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (NCC), ALH.
ALKASIM ABUBAKAR UMAR AT THE 2 ND
QUARTER 2023 INDUSTRY CONSUMER ADVISORY
FORUM (ICAF) MEETING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2023
PROTOCOLS
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba
Danbatta
Distinguished Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management,
Mr. Adeleke Adewolu
Heads of Departments, Ministries, and Agencies here present
Management and Staff of NCC
Representatives of all Security Agencies here Present
Representatives of Financial Institutions
ICAF Chairman and Member Institution representatives
Telecommunications Operators
Industry Players
Gentlemen of the press
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), it is my
great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2 nd Quarter 2023 Open Forum of
the Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) with the theme
“Combating E-fraud on Telecom Platforms and Building Consumer
Confidence in the Digital Economy”. We gather here today to address a
pressing issue that affects not only the telecommunications industry but
also the overall safety and security of our nation’s digital landscape.
In recent years, the growth of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria has
been remarkable. With increasing access to mobile phones and internet
connectivity, we have witnessed a surge in digital transactions, making our
lives more convenient and efficient. However, this rapid expansion has also
opened new avenues for criminals to exploit unsuspecting individuals
through various forms of electronic fraud. According to some reports,
Nigerians have lost about N12.5 billion to financial crimes linked to the
telecommunications industry in the past four (4) years.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that
600 billion US Dollars is lost to cybercrime each year, an increase from a
2014 study that put global losses at about 445 billion US Dollars.
In Africa, the peril of cybercrimes recorded a massive rise in the first six
months of 2022, “with phishing and scams hitting 438 percent and 174
percent in Kenya and Nigeria, respectively”, the Guardian Newspapers.
reported on August 3, 2022.
E-fraud poses a significant threat to our society, as it undermines the trust
and confidence in our digital platforms, hampers economic growth, and
adversely impacts the lives of our citizens. As the regulatory authority
responsible for overseeing the telecommunications industry, the NCC
recognizes its duty to safeguard the interests of consumers and protect the
integrity of our digital ecosystem.
This forum provides us with an opportunity to come together as
stakeholders, including telecom operators, financial institutions, law
enforcement agencies, government bodies, and concerned citizens, to
collaborate and devise effective strategies to combat e-fraud.
The NCC remains committed to its mandate of creating an enabling
environment for the sustainable growth of the telecommunications sector.
To this end, we have already implemented several initiatives aimed at
mitigating e-fraud risks. However, we understand that the battle against e-
fraud requires constant adaptation and continuous improvement. Hence,
this forum serves as a platform to share best practices, exchange
knowledge, and explore innovative solutions to stay ahead of the ever-
evolving tactics employed by fraudsters.
I encourage all participants to actively engage in discussions, share their
experiences, and propose practical recommendations. Let us leverage the
collective expertise in this room to develop strategies that strike a balance
between convenience and security, ensuring that our telecom platforms
remain safe and trustworthy.
Moreover, I urge all stakeholders to prioritize consumer education and
awareness. By equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and
skills to identify and report e-fraud, we can empower them to protect
themselves and contribute to the broader fight against cybercrime.
The Consumer is one of the major stakeholders in the telecoms industry. It
is our desire as a Commission to ensure that they enjoy primary focus. We
believe that through adequate education, information sharing, and the
provision of an array of channels for redress, we can safeguard telecom
consumers, and innovatively promote the prospect for greater Consumer
Experience in the Digital Economy.
Together, we can build a culture of digital literacy and resilience that
safeguards our nation’s digital future.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the
participants, speakers, and organizers who have made this forum possible.
Your dedication and commitment to addressing e-fraud in the telecom
sector are commendable. Let us seize this opportunity to forge stronger
partnerships and develop practical solutions that will enable us to
overcome this challenge.
Thank you, and I wish us all fruitful deliberations and a successful forum.
