DATA RESELLER VS MTN | WHY ARE WE POOR?
It was in the 3rd quarter of the year 2014 that I received a broadcast
from a friend informing me that I can buy 250 Megabyte data for just 400 Naira on
MTN Nigeria network. This was a time that the network charged up to 1000 Naira for
just 260MB and definitely, he has a great deal. I still remember replying him by
asking "what must I do to be saved".
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That was the beginning of my journey into buying MTN shared data
from this good old friend. Soon I started buying data for myself, family and even
friends. Buying 250mb for 400 or 1GB for 1200 was very reasonable. I guess my friend
was making some money too because he started having this confidence in his ability
to make it big in business anytime we talk online or offline.
The first time things changed was when I requested that he
should send 250MB data to my MTN as usual towards the end of the year. After a
long silence, this retailer friend, called to inform me they can't sell 250 MB
again. He accused MTN of reviewing the data plan without notice. In fact, he
told me he will be making a big lose due to this unforeseen action from the
biggest GSM company in Nigeria. His conclusion was "i can only sell 1GB
for 1200 henceforth".
I continue buying the 1GB or sometimes 2GB from him after the
adjustment and I will say due to my work and hobby, I use lot of data in a month. He started sending
those broadcast on whatsapp and BBM again. Life is beautiful again until today
that I reach him for data. I discovered
that just like the first time but even in a more daring manner, MTN stopped him
from sharing data without notice. He told me "I have like 8GB to share and
now my business is over". For the first time in 2 years, he ask me to help
him get a job. I felt bad and disappointed. Find a job is a very big task at
the moment in Nigeria.
MTN have the right to do their business in any manner they feel
it will help them maximize profit and fulfill their social responsibilities to
Nigeria. I believe they have the right to remove or modify any plan without
notice. Sometimes, the terms and conditions will give them the power to act
without notice but who among us take time to read those long essays. I learnt
that the plan is not to be sold from another friend that works with MTN but I
know they are not breaking any rules buying data in bulk and selling in smaller
units.
But whenever I look to my friend and how much selling data
has done for him, then I think MTN should have a rethink. It turned him from a
job seeker to an entrepreneur. He started having business ideas on how to
expand his business and employ people to work with him. Not that he made millions
but it is meeting his needs and having the hope of expansion.
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As for me, I asked him if there are other networks he can
still sell and he told me the available options. In the spirit of being my
brother's keeper, I bought 2GB data on another network SIM card and took me
less than 2 minutes to switch my data service. I left him happy and I have 2 GB
data that is doing as fine as my MTN.
Creating employment is good but providing opportunities for
growth and development is better. It will take years to create the kind of employments
needed to banish poverty in Nigeria but by providing opportunities; we will empower
the people to create the riches needed to prosper at a faster rate.
What is making us poor?
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