The management of the Abuja GSM Village has intensified enforcement against unauthorised agents, popularly known as “Oja boys,” to safeguard customers and protect market integrity.
The Vice Chairman of the market association, Mr Abdulfatah Aliyu, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
Aliyu said the market leadership deployed an internal task force and established a dedicated disciplinary office to flush out fake technicians and aggressive touts.
He told NAN that these unauthorised intermediaries often intercept unsuspecting customers at market entrances, inflate repair costs, and damage devices.
“We realised that these ‘Oja boys’ were destroying the reputation of genuine, hardworking technicians who have spent years building their trade.
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“Customers come to the market expecting professional service but end up getting short-changed by individuals who have no fixed shop or verifiable skill,” he said.
The vice chairman further told NAN that all registered technicians and apprentices in the market were issued official identity cards and assigned designated shop numbers.
He urged members of the public visiting the hub to deal exclusively with verified shop owners and refrain from engaging individuals wandering around the premises.
“If you do not deal directly with a registered shop owner, it becomes difficult for the market authority to intervene or recover your property if a dispute arises.
“Our task force monitors the premises daily, and anyone caught posing as a repairer or harassing buyers is immediately handed over to law enforcement,” Aliyu said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the association to maintaining a safe, transparent, and accountable environment for digital trade and technical service delivery in the Federal Capital Territory.
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(NAN)
