Some GSM subscribers on Wednesday advised telecommunication operators in the country to send only important information to their phones.
The subscribers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that some text messages like proverbs and jokes, among others, were often unsolicited for.
Alhaji Gbolagade Akanji, Chairman of Taxi and Motor Park operators at CMS, Lagos, said although most text promos were not solicited for, but subscribers were still charged.
“We really want telecoms operators to stop, but if they don’t, Nigerians must come together to find a solution to this,’’ Akanji said.
Yusuf Lamidi, a retiree of First Bank of Nigeria, said such unsolicited text messages reduced the phone storage capacity.
“Such messages delay or delete the real text messages we are expecting,” Lamidi said.
Chief Moji Macaulay of Makoko, Lagos, said that operators needed to know the kind of messages to send.
“Most times they send jokes that are not funny and proverbs that someone cannot comprehend.
“I was thinking of visiting them if not for my tight schedule; they should not continue,” Macaulay said.
An entrepreneur, Mrs Ngozi Kalu, the Chief Executive of Ngobest Nig. Ltd, said such unsolicited messages were not needed.
“We, however, advised them to inform us if their network has any challenge so that we can seek options.
“This poses menace to our business and we in turn lose huge money,” Kalu said.
A tailor, Mr Ade Iwaye, advised operators to ensure their networks were always in good state.
“Last week, I spent almost N1,000 for calls that did not go through.
“Before the emergence of cell phones, we were communicating; No one will go to the market purposely to buy expired goods,’’ Iwaye said
Another subscriber, who did not disclose his identity, however, said he did not want one of the major operators, MTN, to stop such messages.
“I receive between three to five texts messages a day. To me, it they are informative and entertaining,” he said.
Reacting to the allegations, Mr Funsho Aina, the MTN Public Relations and Protocol Manager, Corporate Service Division, said the company would strive harder to meet customers’ demands. (NAN
