 Let's see on the breakfast and plus CV Africa we look at telecommunication operators and your plan to increase the tariff by 40 percent. We do have an expert who joins the conversation of Kono Abdulahi. Let's go to have you join us this morning. Thank you so much for having me. Okay, so let's get straight to this conversation now. The reason for this action by telecommunication companies, although some persons are saying it is already being implemented, is that they are putting the blame on high cost of diesel and other energy sources and recent introduction of excess duty of 5 percent on telecom services. And this has actually been responsible for the increase by 40 percent. What do you make of all of this? Okay, thank you so much. If you are to go by what we have been experiencing over time in this country, pretending to high the sesance increment in the cost of living, you may want to say that for the operators to come with this idea of an increment in increasing the tariff across both on their services. We will say it is not the one that is surprising. It is not surprising taking a cue from, for example, the electricity tariff that was jacked up enough for the assistance of the part of the organized labor. By now the petroleum comprising also would have been jacked up. So for this also, like they said earlier, it is not surprising that they are coming with this. And I would want to believe that they have started the implementation. Why did I say that? For them to start, they must get an express approval from the NCC, which I don't think that has been given by the information that are disposed of. And the various tabloids that carried it from the, let us know that it be just rules to NCC or approval. And it means that it has not yet been implemented. And if they have started the implementation, that will be very, very appropriate and it is something that is not supposed to be consumed. Having said this, on the increment, I want to say that it is one that is going to be impacted so badly on the consumers. Like I said earlier, everything now is going high. Nothing is coming down in terms of prices in Nigeria. Even it's as bad as, even all the political parties, the politicians, those in government that's supposed to ensure that there is stability in the cost of living for Nigerians. Their own nomination forms, too, are also going high. They are also raising the fees for their nomination forms. So these two tell us that these people do not have the best interest of Nigeria's, of the masques and arts. All right, Abdelai, it is... Abdelai, so fine, let's leave the issue of nomination forms increasing to 40 million and 100 million. But let's talk about the impact of all of this. Now, from what we hear, SMSR, which actually goes for about four Naira, will now have to increase to about five Naira, 61 Kobo. And the per second billing that we have been paying, or price, of course, will now increase from six Naira, 40 Kobo to eight Naira, 95 Kobo. My question now would be, how can this be averted? Don't you think, or do you think that the issue of maybe subsidized energy costs for operators might be a way out? Yes, you are very, very correct. There it can also be a way out, but I don't really see if they'll see the light of the... Why do they see that? You remember, you call that the government has persistently told us that the high cost on subsidy on the petroleum and even electricity for supply as in all that cannot be sustained. So if we are coming with this idea also that they should subsidize for the operators, I don't think it would be a welcome development for them. I think the most important thing is for us, rather for us to be tackling the symptoms, we should rather tackle the ailment itself, the sickness itself, its official tackle. By that I'm referring to getting our, what do you call it, refineries working. You know, if the refineries are working, we will not have any reason for us to be selling, I mean, to be selling at the international price. Then apart from that also, the cost of people bringing all these commodities back into the country will also be eliminated. So the focus, like I said, should be on refining localities. Once you are able to refine localities, you will not have all these, it's a certain, what do you call it, increments in the home price. So I think that would be the way to go. And for the operators, to a very large extent, we want to agree or reason with them, with the reasons they gave because we are also, if we are in the sector and we know what is obtained in Buk Shobin, actually all their base stations are run on generating sites. And the cost of diesel will bear with me, has been going back in the last couple of, what do you call it, weeks going to months now. So then apart from that also, the issues of towels at the various locations, before you, what do you call it, before they offload diesels to all these base stations, you see a lot of paths coming around and then seeking, I mean collecting money before it can offload and you power the generating sites on those sites. So that also, it's also impacting on the cost of doing business. And they talk about that, what do you call it, logistics as well. So there you not be standing that. I think, like I mentioned earlier, the best would be for us to be what you call it, refining locally. Then apart from that also, government should also look at that area of towels everywhere you go to on trying to power the generating sites to see a lot of them. And now it is very funny to let you know that now they have also increased what they collect from the operators before they can power their base stations. So it is a bad situation we have on our hands. It is a terrible situation we have on our hands. And the most, what do you call it now, you wash it will be the masses. People that presently you see majority of the engineers are not fault in their cause. Not to talk of going on internet using the data, you understand. Now we are increasing the cost of what you call it, of these services to them. It will be the pain in the soul as projecting on them. It is one that I want to believe that the intervention of every stakeholder, including the government, the operators should have a retake on this. It is not the way to go for our people. But just looking at it again, looking at the fact that the government has a responsibility in providing an enabling environment categorically, can you state what can be done in the short term, because of course you probably might just have a long term. But what can be done in the interim to avert the situation? Okay, like the point I raised earlier, in terms of tals, I call them tals, all these area boys are here and there. If the government can ensure that there is a delivery of diseases to all these stations, it will reduce costs of doing business for all these operators. If that is done to a very large extent, certain fraction of the cost of doing business will be reduced. So if they look at that, because I tell you, it is running to several hundred millions of Merah. I'm not doing it to billions, I must let you know. So this is the amount of money that people that do not work for the company and they are just making the good money without anybody checking them. So this will come in form of a very large extent, see it from the angle of insecurity, because if you fail to settle these boys, they may want preventing you from offloading your, what do you call it, the diesel. And apart from that, if they allow you to do so, before you can come back, they can also do what demolish or destroy, come back with your base stations. And so if the government can look into this, it will reduce the cost of doing business for the operators, like I said earlier. A very good point was also raised earlier by Austin, though I was pessimistic about the point he raised, which is give a subsidy to these operators. It is doable if the government sees it as one that they are not necessarily doing the favors to the operators, but rather they are doing it for the engineers. It's also a way to go. All right, thank you, Okono. Good day, yes. All right, thank you so much. We have been speaking with Okono Abdelahi. He is the general secretary of the private telecoms and communication senior staff association of Nigeria, Texan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us this morning. Thank you so much for having me. All right, that's indeed the size of the show. So if nothing is done in the interim, Nigerians may have to be paying a lot more to your texts at them to make calls. Some service providers have already gone ahead to implement all of that. Probably might just be a difficult time to be a Nigerian. Fingers crossed, let's see how relevant stakeholders step into the situation. But like Justin mentioned earlier on, that's the size of the show. We will return tomorrow. It would be an exciting time. If you missed out on any part of the conversation, you will be all right to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And do subscribe to YouTube channel where plus TV Africa and plus TV Africa lifestyle. I am Messi Popo. Have a fantastic day. And I'm Justin Nakadouni. 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