The Nigeria Communication Commission(NCC) has disclosed that it had embarked on the deployment of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Clearing House that would be managed by the reputable and neutral operators towards a successful switching of network users from one SIM to another within 90 days.

The  Executive  Commissioner, Stakeholders management of NCC, Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi, who confirmed this development in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital at the 49thedition of Consumer outreach programme entitled: " Mobile Number Portability: Imperatives for Improved Service Delivery", disclosed that the process of developing a database on the programme had begun in February  and would completed before the end of year.

Itanyi, who was represented by  Dr. Femi Atoyebi, said "when completed, subscribers who will want to migrate from one network to another while retaining their mobile numbers will be privileged to do so at no cost. However, re-migration to another network or to their original network can only be possible after a 90-day period so as to avoid abuse of the system.

"It is also worthy to note that all subscribers' data captured or kept in the MNP database will be strictly confidential and therefore consumers should not entertain any fear of their data being compromised."

The Commission, which allayed fears over the poor quality service provided by the network operators said "the Commission would continue to emphasise that quality of service index of all networks be published through the media at regular intervals so as to guide subscribers in making an informed decision on the network to choose before migration".

NCC however, assured consumers that its would ensure that there is transparency for all networks' tariff platform such that consumers can be duly notified of the tariff structure of the network they are migrating to.

While commending the Commission, the Kwara state Commissioner for Education, Science and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Raji Mohammed described the Consumer Forum initiated by the Commission as a good platform that would bring all stakeholders and network users together to  dialogue on boiling issues affecting the communication sector.

He appealed to the network operators not to use the  Mobile Number Portability to charge new tariff on calls made by the consumers.