Professor Umar Danbatta, the executive vice-chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that forensic audit was ongoing on data price deflation in the country.
Danbatta made this known at an award presentation to him as `Man of the Year’ by MoneyReport Magazine on Tuesday in Abuja. According to him, the Commission needed to get to the root why consumers were experiencing data deflation and the possibility of compensating them for wrong deductions, which might arise from SMS.
“We have instituted and we have insisted in spite of the fall in data price, that forensic audit must go on and must be concluded. “Also that communications will be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer so that we can see what actions we can take to right any wrongs that will be made known to Nigerians, including the possibility of compensating consumers in the way and manner we have compelled Mobile Network Operators to do another audit to compensate consumers for wrong deductions arising from SMS. “Airtel is compensating consumers.
This has been done as I am talking to you, Airtel has complied. “We should await the outcome of the forensic audit. This intention is to get to the bottom of why data is being deflated if, indeed, this is true,” he said.
Danbatta thanked the MoneyReport Magazine members for the award recognition presented to him and described it as humbling to the commission.
He dedicated the award to members of staff of the commission, noting that the recognition served as further encouragement to the organisation to do more by doubling efforts in discharging its duties.
“We will continue to entertain objective criticisms,” Danbatta said.
Earlier, Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, chairman, Editorial Advisory Board, Money Report Magazine, said that the medium made an exhaustive examination, probe and investigation of NCC activities before presenting the award to Danbatta.