RECENT INCREASE IN PRICE OF GSM RECHARGE CARDS AFFECTS DEALERS AND END USERS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS.

GSM recharge cards of all service providers come in different vouchers and prices, which are written on the vouchers. There are recharge cards for one hundred naira, two hundred, four hundred, seven hundred and fifty and one thousand five hundred naira. Until recently, dealers sold these cards at stipulated amount to end users but barely a month ago, end users were made to spend extra ten naira to obtain any of the cards, a situation which many of them had described as worrisome.

When Radio Nigeria went to town to ascertain the cause of the increase, it was not only observed that only MTN cards were affected but most retailers sold only one hundred naira vouchers which was said to generate more money when buyers had the need for higher denominations. In an interview, one of the sub-dealers of the products, Mrs. Chinwe Aham explained that the ten naira increase was as a result of increase in the price of purchasing them from the main dealers.

“The main distributor whom MTN settled told us that the price had increased.”

Mrs. Aham urged the MTN office to intervene in the situation as it was  affecting their business adversely. Two retailers of the commodity, Mr. Onyeka Dulibaku and Mrs.  Joy Ebenezer attributed the increase to what they spent while purchasing from the distributors.

“Initially we were buying it at a low rate but is no longer so.”

The retailers claimed that they were recording low sales since the introduction of extra ten naira to the cost of the cards. Two end users of the commodity, Mr. Uchenna Anthony and Miss Nonye Edeh expressed worry over the increase.

“They should stop this.’’

“If not we look for another network’’.

When contacted, the Manager in charge of MTN Office at Zik Avenue Enugu, Mr. Chineye Muoneke claimed that the office was not aware of the increase and added that the matter would be investigated.

“We need to know the group of people that are doing it because they are tarnishing the image of the office.”

Meanwhile just as this report was being packaged, this message was received by users, “Dear Customer, please do not agree to pay more than the amount that is printed on any MTN recharge card: Remember, what you see is what you pay!.

If this message is anything to go by, then one would think that the addition of ten naira on the affected recharge cards is just another effort by some Nigerians to escape from recession at the detriment of others.

EDITH AJAH