Although the price increase was expected, a close monitoring activities of recharge card sellers in major cities of Lagos on Monday revealed that apart from the fact that the recharge card dealers were running out stock, cards in small denominations have added N10 to N20 respectively.
The increment in the small denomination, according street traders , may not be unconnected with high patronage by average Nigerian.
MTN N100 denomination , for instance sold for N100 before now goes for N110 while N200 now goes for N210. It also applies to other denminations.
Similarly, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat N100, N200 and N500 respectively have now added N10 as against the original price.
"That is the situation we find ourselves. The dealers have adjusted recharge card prices following fuel pump price increased by the present administration. We do not have choice other than to adjust the price by N10" a young lady selling card at Unity road Ikeja told our reporter in anonymous ground.
According to her, recharge card authorized dealers have adjusted the price by 5 percent because of current fuel price.
"MTN N100 we used to buy N90 is now sold for N95. It also applies to other denominations. That is why we have to add N10 so as to make gains. It is not our fault" she explained. Also speaking on recharge card price hike, Akin Banabas, a recharge card seller at Alade market, Ikeja, told our reporter that price adjustment in recharge card did not come as a surprise, adding that prices of commodities have also gone up.
" Every card denomination has added N10 to N20 respectively. " The price we are selling now is informed by dealers price hike. You can ask the dealers why the increment but the answer is obvious though" he added.
But every attempt to speak to recharge card dealers failed as at press time because of the fact that economic activities have not fully returned.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo had earlier predicted an increase in the cost of telecommunications services by the operators.
He said: "The telecoms industry would be seriously affected by the subsidy removal, which will justify an increase in the cost of service in the sector. The recharge card dealers, seem to be acting on their own accord based on what they spent to buy the cards."
How much do you get recharge cards in your area?
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IN kogi state is d same amount as u hav said
ReplyDeleteIf you buy on ATMs and quickteller.com you get full value.
ReplyDelete"If you buy on ATMs and quickteller.com you get full value."
ReplyDeleteMaybe that is probably the best thing to do.
ncase u wish to trade recharge card in Abuja,i can give u between 92 and 93 naira,depend on ur purchasing quantity,call me on 08058181632
ReplyDelete