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The Many Ills Of GSM In The Nigerian Society By Mbosire Kazon
In the year 2001, the Nigerian Communication Sector took a new dimension. The Global Satellite Mobile Network popularly known as GSM was introduced and Nigerians embraced it with both hands. GSM came, as a welcome development in Nigeria, because the world is now globalized and information technology is one factor that is responsible for that. The country has demonstrated its readiness to join the league of the nations in the track of Economic prosperity associated with Communication Technology. The percentage of Mobile Telecommunication subscribers in Nigeria is over 90% and this percentage clearly shows how much we have accepted GSM as our way of communication. GSM has no doubt impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians considering the fact that it enables effective communication not only in cities but also even in rural areas. Nigerian GSM subscribers can now use their mobile phones to do many things including making voice calls, sending short messages services (text) and other high level of services like, transmitting (sending) and receiving still and line images, watching live events from any part of the world etc.
Although, the introduction of GSM is no doubt a plus to the Communication Sector, these developments is now attended by some ills, which for sure have started impacting negatively on the overall gains so far made from the System of Communication. Nigerians are now miss-using GSM and it’s impacting negatively on us, it is the rate at which road accidents occur as a result of using GSM while driving. Nigerians have even nicknamed GSM as “General street madness” and this may be connected with the fact that, we use it in the inappropriate ways. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRC) has over the years been campaigning against the use of GSM phone while on the road, because of the dangers attached to it. In some cities like Abuja, the use of GSM phone while driving is now an offence and the offenders are arrested and fined. This is indeed a good development, because it has contributed to the reduction of using phone while on the road, thereby reducing the rate of accidents in the FCT. This initiative should be encouraged and implemented in all other states in the country, because everyday, many lives are lost on the road as a result of making or receiving calls.
GSM has also boosted the rate of Phonographic and allied deviant activities especially among the youths. This has contributed in the rise of immorality and is undoubtedly corrupting the minds of our young boys and girls. Teenagers, boys and girls now download and post indecent texts and pictures and circulate them for reasons they know. In our Institution of learning, it is a common thing to see female students sending their nude pictures to their male colleagues. Some female students have even gone the extra miles of posting their nude pictures to foreign-patronize who are in dying need of nude pictures for their phonographic magazines. This new ways of phonographic need should be addressed, because it is getting out of hand, therefore, our parents/ Guardians, Religious leaders etc. should have major role to play on this issues.
Another negative way, by which GSM has impacted on us, is the fact that there is now incessant theft of handsets. Every day, when you flip through Newspapers and Magazines, you are likely to read stories of young men and to some extend women caught stealing one handset or the other. The theft of handsets is so rampant, in fact, it is everywhere: in our schools, inside commercial vehicles, public places and even places of worship. These are Nigerians, that decided to empower themselves through the act of theft of handsets. These handsets are usually sold at very cheap prices so that they could make money for ends meet. This act, however, is uncalled for, because it is a crime and the Police are always on the look for GSM thieves. Here are other good ways through, which one can get employed e.g. the sale of recharge cards, specializing in the repairs of phones etc.
Nigerians are also abusing the use of handsets, because we now use it everywhere, especially in places of worship. It is common that in the middle of sermon in Churches or prayers in Mosque, you hear phones ringing thereby disrupting attention. This act should not be encouraged, because we are suppose to dedicate, submitted and humble ourselves before God. Nigerians are also fond of using their phones in Banks despite the clear warning that the use of phones is not allowed. Trust Nigerians, some now use it as status symbol, they make and receive calls at places that are prohibited, all in the name of showing that they have arrived. Nigerians should know that there are places where you cannot use the mobile phone and we should try as much as possible to respect such places.
We all know the importance of GSM to our lives, but never has it been made compulsory for every citizen to own a GSM phone. There are people who use their very last savings to purchase phones, and at end they won’t be able to carter for their personal needs or that of their family. Children now put their parents under pressure by demanding for money to buy expensive phones, some do not even ask, instead the steal from their parents so that they could by a sophisticated phone. The use of expensive handsets is now the fashion of the day in our higher institutions of learning. Students now engage in different ways to get colourful and expensive phones.
The coming of GSM has also brought about a new form of examination malpractices. Some GSM handset-owners store a lot of information in its memory. Students are the major culprits here, because they copy most of what they are taught in class and during the examination or test, they enter the hall and engage in examination malpractice. It has made most students to become lazy, as they no longer spend time in studying their books and making researches, they prefer storing everything in their phones and take it to examination hall. This has made most brain to be lazy and dull ignoring the fact that the brain is the first computer endowed on human beings.
Another negative factor of the GSM is that, it has turned people into beggars. This is common among girls as they disturb their relation, spouse etc. for recharge cards. Every girl you meet, after a brief chat, all she asks, is for you to recharge her phone. This act is indecent, as Africans are not known for begging. There are students who use their pocket money meant for the purchase of books and other relevant materials on buying recharge cards. Some don’t even use it for themselves. It is common to see students using their very last money to recharge their girl friends phones.
GSM is no doubt a positive development to our country as it facilitates effective communication. However, all these ills need to be properly addressed. The Federal Road Safety Corps, Parents/Guardians, Religious leaders and even the GSM service providers need to educate on the ways by which we can make use of the GSM phones without really associating it with the negativities. Nigerians need to understand that GSM is not a do or die thing. Lets try and use it wisely and effectively. There are a lot of ills attached to GSM and it is time for us to beware!
DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION, UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI
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