For those advocating for reduced call charges in Nigeria because they feel the current call rates by telecoms operators is unreasonable, they would perhaps have to wait a little longer.

This is because the regulator, National Communications Commission (NCC) has said the charges are reasonable and comparable to any price regime in Africa.

The Executive Secretary National Communications Commission (NCC) Mr Ernest Ndukwe told delegates at the Economists Conference which ended yesterday in Lagos that he does not believe the current charges on calls by telecoms operators in Nigeria is too high.

"I don't agree that the cost of call in Nigeria is too high. Subscribers in Nigeria are paying market rates comparable elsewhere in Africa," he said, adding that the prices in Nigeria is within the middle range.

"It is a thing of perception. We are in a highly competitive market and prices would go down with time. At a time in this country, a fixed line was sold for N250,000 but the same line is almost free now," he said.

The NCC boss rather advised Nigerians to shop right for telecoms products based on their needs rather paying high for services they don't need or use.

He however acknowledge that broadband access may be expensive but with deliberate efforts by the NCC to encouraging broadband infrastructure and when the various operators laying fibre optic cables have completed work, broadband and data service would also be cheap.

On SIM card registration Ndukwe explained that the idea is not only for security reasons but to provide a platform for mobile money business.

It would also provide some form of valid identity to Nigerians who don't have means of identification like the National Identity card or international passport.

On number portability, he said, the NCC has engaged a consultant to that effect and as soon as the SIM registration reaches certain level of success, the NCC would introduce the number portability.