In recent times, the rate at which Nigerian Mobile subscribers are bombarded with unsolicited text message from Registered Mobile Service Providers and other unknown sources are very appalling. These text messages often require Subscribers to reply /text ‘’ YES’’ to whatever they are vendoring at a fee. Most exasperating is the fact that most of these SMS do not ''add any value'' to the Subscribers but merely meant to generate revenue for the sources. More so, much of the content of these SMS can be so meaningless, childish and annoyingly silly, that as a subscriber you are forced to start wondering how on earth they had access to your mobile number to send such ‘’junks’’.
Imagine the content of an unsolicited SMS that I received recently:

'' Try out today the LOVE METER to calculate whether you two are the perfect match for each other! Send your name + your partner name to 33550. N50, Ex: @ Bello + Passion. ‘’.

Imagine, I should send my name and my spouse's name to a faceless individual who doesn’t know anything about me or my spouse (and who probably knows next to nothing about the intricacy of Marriage or Relationship) to tell me if I and my wife are a match. And to think that I am required to pay for this outrageous service?
How annoying, childish and frustrating can these unsolicited SMS get?!!!! And they do come in various context too. Some are in form of subscriptions for Junk music from some Junk artistes, while others come in form of request for subcription for daily inspirational quotes (that anyone can access free-of-charge via Google )
As a frustrated Subscriber, just as you make frantic efforts at deleting and finding means of permanently getting rid of such unsolicited SMS, you are bombarded with yet another of such SMS from other unknown sources day in, day out.
Given these frustrating trends that Subscribers are forced to contend with daily, the questions that readily comes to mind are:-
1. How do the Sources of these SMS have access to Millions of Subscribers’ mobile numbers to send such messages?
2. Are the Sources from which the unsolicited SMS emanate collaborating with Mobile Service Providers in these schemes. Is it a collusion to defraud un-suspecting subscribers of their monies as some of these SMS are such that once a subscriber replies them, the unsuspecting subscriber faces daily deduction of the unsolicited SMS charge.
3. Are the NCC, FIRS and other Regulatory bodies aware of the Billions of Naira these unsolicited SMS (scams) are generating from unsuspecting subscribers? And are these bodies on top of their jobs to ensure that not only do they protect the interests of the subscribing public, regulate the activities of these sources but also adequately tax and levy these SMS sources to generate the much needed evenue for the government.

While it is acceptable to seek legitimate means of making money, it is out-rightly appalling the extent to which people tend to go to ‘’ extort’’ monies from unsuspecting subscribers all in the name of offering services that are devoid of Professionalism and lack content creativity.
Unfortunately ( and worrisome too), our regulatory bodies are mere statutory bodies that are established to promote and protect interests other than those of the public. Otherwise, there aren’t acceptable reasons why the Nigerian Public should be allowed to endure the agonies these Service Providers unleash via their unsolicited SMS scams, while they smile to the bank with Billions of Naira at the detriment of the subscribers.
This is a call to the Regulatory Bodies to rise to their responsibilities and put an end to these scams and unsolicited Nonsense!!