The Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy has warned against the unauthorised use and sale of frequency-enabled devices：walkie-talkies across the country. 

The minister, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, who issued the warning while briefing journalists in Kano, said the unauthorised use and sale of private mobile radios was a great disservice to the country.

He lamented that Kano had many vendors and users of walkie-talkie, especially long range radio ，adding that as part of the ministry’s sensitisation effort lined up for this year’s ‘Radio Monitoring Week,’ members of staff have been mobilised to educate and caution people on the implications of using the devices without a licence.

“Today, with emerging technologies, many more applications are coming up, thereby creating new products, industries, opportunities, knowledge and even challenges. Most of these challenges stem from the proliferation of generic radios being imported into the country and used by citizens who claim to be ignorant of its implication on the country. These radios communicate on unlicensed frequencies. 

“The effect of this is that the radio operating frequencies  interfere with the frequencies that might have been assigned to other services, leading to cross-talk and distorted communication. This situation should not continue due to the damaging effect it has on our productivity as a country,” he said.