EXCLUSIVE: Stolen phone was encouraged by Network providers and security agents

Recently, the rate of phone thefts has increased drastically, all thanks to the negligence act of the telecommunication providers and the frustrating act of the Nigeria Police Force.

Nigeria joined the mobile technology space of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) from General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), 2G, 3G and 4G.

Though, prior to the introduction of 2G - second generation - all mobile phone has IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number.

IMEI number is a 15-digit number unique to each device. Phone carriers and manufacturers share IMEI numbers to enable tracking of smartphones that may be stolen or compromised.

In August 2015, android was introduced to Nigerians with a built-in GPS - Global Positioning System - giving an easy way to know the location of a particular phone whenever it is switch on.

It's quite unfortunate that despite the present of IMEI number and GPS in all mobile phone in Nigeria, we still find it difficult to track a lost phone. Why??

I have lost my phone thrice, and I called the network providers in all the occasions but their reply is always, "we did not have the application to track your phone" but they have the application to block all subscribers that has not link their NIN to their phone number(s).

Our telecommunication network providers can not locate a lost phone location through GPS but our phone can automatically synchronize our information immediately we insert our SIM card - Subscribers Identification Module- into another phone, who is fooling who?

If I loss the phone I have been using - to make calls, browse and send SMS - for the past six months or more, my network provider will tell me to report it to security agent to know the location because they did not have the application to track it.

Meanwhile, experience at the security agent is another strenuous stress on its own, it's step by step process: ranging from payment for lodging complain, processing fees, payment for travelling, if the location of the phone is not in your state.

And added that, all the charges were promised to subject to refund upon retrieval of your phone.

My concern is, some people were discouraged and frustrated by the exorbitant processing fee of almost 50% or more of the cost of the phone and sometimes, it takes months to retrieve some phone.

Conclusions: I will plead to the concern parties - Nigeria Police Force, Telecommunication providers, and ministry of communication and technology - to make the tracking of a lost phone an hitch-free process in order to curb and reduce the rate of phone snatching in the society and in Nigeria at large.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria