Business
Nigeria registers mobile phones
That day, Nigerians clustered around plastic-table registration points, where customers waited in line to have their information taken by an employee with a laptop computer. At an MTN registration point in Lagos, a barefoot traditional priest mixed with businessmen in suits and others waiting impatiently for service.
“The idea is good, but the processes are extremely poor,” said Mike Adewale, 41.
Others say the inconvenience is only temporary.
“The registration of the old (lines) will soon be over and anyone who buys a new (line) has to go to the network’s office to register it. Some customers are not happy about that, but it’s still the same thing,” said Patricia Ekechi, who sells mobile phone airtime cards in Lagos.
While many vendors follow the rules, others see an opportunity to make quick money. Police arrested some vendors after being caught registering several phone lines in their own name and selling them at premium rates, the commission said.
“They do not realize the implication,” Sen. Sylvester Anyanwu told local channel African Independent Television. The vendors “are the ones who will be held responsible.”
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
