General Street Malady (GSM)
The introduction of the Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria has obviously created tremendous improvements in the live style of the average Nigerian, but not without the abuse and misuse of the system.
The successful implementation of the Global Mobil System in Nigeria has turned to become one of the country’s most outstanding development project ever embarked on by any administration in the entire history of
Nigeria. It is also perhaps the most popular (masses oriented) project. The acceptability of the GSM telephony by the populace is tremendous, but though not without some resentments. As it is expected of any such adventure into a new project area embarked by government,
hiccups and misadministration are common initial difficulties experienced. Therefore, it would be expected for a section of society to cry foul in area such as high tariff, epileptic signal, poor customer service, and exploitative tendencies by operators, etc.
The Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Government should look into these complaints seriously, because there is a loud outcry from the wider society for fundamental reforms in the GSM sub-sector.
The benefits of the implementation of the Global Mobile System are abound, and notably, the widespread usage of GSM phones across all strata of society including children, teenagers and adults alike is an
encouraging development. The wide gap previously existing between the ‘rich and poor’ in the area of communication is no longer visible. In the past, it is only the rich and mighty that flaunts their mobile phones, showing off wherever they are, but these days,
it is the little boys and girls who have taken over the show. And it is spreading like wild fire across the country with linking of new towns and cities.
With the current rate of growth in the telecommunications sector, resulting from the expanding list of wireless fixed telephone operators, alongside mobil phone operators. It could therefore be rightly said that Nigeria
has now joined the global telecommunication community. Business can now be conducted with much ease, international business partners can now contact their associates in Nigeria with ease. All of these are good, but there is an emerging perspective that is given
great concern to many observers, and that is the issue of fake handsets and the misuse of mobile phones in public places.
It is a common occurrence to hear someone shouting from a distance, apparently having a phone conversation. People say all kinds of things without knowing how much information they are letting out to the public.
This information may be vulgar, sensitive, and even classified. Listen this conversation from a young girl riding on a bike (Okada) passing by my office (my office is on the first floor with all the windows closed because of the air-conditioning system that is
on). “Tony, Tony can you hear me, Alhaji has given me the money, Yes, N350,000.00. Yes, I have it with me, I am on my way, where are you …”. This type of information is obviously not meant for public consumption, since you never know who is listening to your
conversation.
Ideally, people should watch what they say while having a telephone conversation in the public, because many a time, people have fallen victim of robbery attack because of one careless talk. The risk you expose
yourself to are enormous, especially in large cities where crime is on the increase. It should also be noted that you could speak quietly and be heard by your listener while having a telephone conversation. Noisy atmosphere tends to affect the volume of your
voice when you are having a conversation on the phone, therefore, avoid answering calls in a noisy place. Keep your voice low, that way you keep your conversation between you and your caller.
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