NCC Enforces Ban On Unsolicited Messages From Mtn,Airtel,Glo, Others. See How It Works

Starting from July 1,2016, Subscribers now have
the freedom to choose what messages to receive
from their various networks following a Directive
by the Nigerian Communications Commission
(NCC) to the telecommunications service
providers in the country to activate the DO NOT
DISTURB.
With this directive, the operators have been
mandated to dedicate a common Short Code
(2442) which will enable subscribers take
informed decisions.
Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director of Public Affairs,
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in
a statement, said this action was taken in order
to protect subscribers from the nuisance of
unsolicited texts, and therefore a direct
regulatory response to the yearnings of the
subscribers.
By this action, he explained, the Commission has
invoked a regulatory provision which had hitherto
been overlooked by the operators.
Taking cognizance of the broad range of services
which include: Banking/Insurance/ Financial
Products, Real Estate, Education, Health,
Consumer Goods and Automobiles,
Communication/ Broadcasting/ Entertainment/
IT, Tourism and leisure, Sports, Religion
(Christianity, Islam, others), the Commission
directed the operators to give the necessary
instructions and clarifications that will enable
subscribers subscribe to a particular service/
services /none at all.

In fact, a Full DND which is SMS “STOP” to 2442
does not allow the subscriber to receive any
unsolicited message from the operators at all.
Below are the various options:
“SMS 1” for receiving SMS relating to Banking?
Insurance/ Financial products to 2442
“SMS 2” for receiving |SMS relating to real Estate
to 2442
“SMS 3” for receiving SMS relating to Education
to 2442
“SMS 4” for receiving SMS relating to Health to
2442
“SMS 5” for receiving SMS relating to Consumer
goods and Automobiles to 2442”
“SMS 6” for receiving SMS relating to
Communication/ Broadcasting Entertainment/IT
to 2442
“SMS 7” for receiving SMS relating to Tourism
and leisure to 2442
“SMS 8” for receiving SMS relating to Sports to
2442
“SMS 9” for receiving SMS relating to Religion to
2442
Ojobo pointed out however that the decision of
the Commission does not affect personal
messages or person to person messages which
are private communication by individuals.
He urged the operators to comply immediately
with the Direction issued by the Commission and
never again harass subscribers with unwanted
messages.