The newly appointed acting Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umaru G. Danbata, has shockingly revealed that cloning of ICT devices like mobile phones has started creating a big economic problem which affects many products in the country.
Prof. Danbata while speaking during stakeholders meeting on “Combating Counterfeit and Substandard ICT Devices” in Abuja, last week revealed that mobile phones (GSM) are targeted, with around 250 million fake products sold annually.
According to the acting Vice Chairman, the number makes up between 15 to 20 percent of the worldwide mobile phone market regardless of the negative economic impact of the unpleasant trend on the producers of genuine products and government licensed dealers that include brand devaluation.
He explained further that the problem poses hazard to the health and safety of various consumers and insisted that its adverse effects on communication network operations was affecting negatively Quality of Service (QoS) delivery.
The stakeholder interaction aimed at the impact of counterfeiting and substandard ICT products on various stakeholders on the global scene with specific reference to Nigeria and West Africa.
