Lagos — Telecom operators in Nigeria under the aegis of Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have launched relief efforts in aid of the victims if the Tsunami quake in Asia and parts of Africa.

In a January 5 letter signed by its President, Engr. Charles Joseph and Secretary, Babajide Odekunle, the operators proposed minimum financial contributions to be made by operators and support service providers.

In the letter to operators, network operators & manufacturers were urged to pay a minimum of N250,000.00, auxiliary services providers, N100,000.00, and Internet Services Providers, N50,000.00.

Other amount recommended are for enhanced services providers urged to contribute N50,000.00, customer equipment dealers, N25,000.00, and consulting companies N25,000.00.

GSM Network Operators and other operators with Short Messaging Service (SMS), were urged to provide a package in which subscribers wishing to donate to the Relief Fund would be given a code with which they could send a text to the operators to deduct N10.00 each from their credit balance. The operators on their own part would match every N10.00 donated by subscribers with another N10.00.

The ATCON letter to the operators read in part:

"On behalf of the Telecommunications Industry in Nigeria, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is spearheading a humanitarian initiative to assist victims of the recent earthquake and tidal waves in Asia and parts of Africa. The disaster is reported to be the worst in 40 years, claiming over 155,000 lives with several hundred thousand people injured, and millions rendered homeless and destitute of basic necessities.

"In our collective response to the urgent need to support the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Nations in their Relief Programmes for the victims of the natural disaster, ATCON is calling on operators in our sector to make meaningful contributions in aid of the victims."

"All contributions from the Nigerian telecommunications sector should be made payable to: Earthquake and Tidal Waves Relief Fund, c/o ATCON Secretariat, 38, Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

"All donations will be channeled to the Federal Government's Committee on the Relief Fund for this particular disaster and donors will be adequately acknowledged as appropriate.

As a player in the Nigerian telecommunications sector, we request your kind support for this industry initiative as a show of your organization's compassion towards the afflicted and strong commitment to sharing in the plights of victims of the recent mishap.

"Thanking you in anticipation of your kind cooperation and support."

The Tsunami quake closed the year 2004 on a sad global note as it brought in its wake death and destruction to many parts of southeast Asia and some parts of Africa. More than 155,000 deaths have been recorded as a result of the quake.