Alone!

I sat alone directly across to the young couple, so I was forced to view the spectacle that ensured I was 'mentally tortured' all through the evening.
They clung close and whispered what I imagined to be sweet, endearing words to each other. No use maintaining such proximity if they were going to be spilling vitriol all over themselves. They pecked, kissed, giggled playfully and kissed some more while taking turns to give each other sips of Pina-Colada. All this was only adding to the already pent-up irritation I was feeling. At a time, I was beginning to get the impression they were delighting at my discomfort and putting on this show specifically for that reason. The thought only served to further heighten my irk; silently I prayed for any form of distraction, anyone or anything that would take me away from there and out of my misery but fate seemed to be conspiring against me and none came forth.

Just as I was getting to the point where I could not bear it any longer, the young man got to his feet and lovingly took his lady’s hand, she got on her feet and wrapped her arm around his waist. A pair of matching smiles and happily dancing eyes that could light up a dark room greeted me as they silently mouthed their good nights and made their way to the exit, their radiant buzz of joy all too evident for everyone to see.
The relief I had anticipated would come upon their departure never came. Instead there was a deep gnawing inside of me. My eyes settled on the empty space in front of me that they had just vacated and suddenly the room felt larger and I, as tiny as a speck of dust. There and then, I felt it… I felt alone!

On your mark, get set… “Port”

It’s just over a week ago now that the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) announced the introduction of the Mobile Number Portability service into the Nigerian Telecommunication industry.
For the non-techies or plain Jane un-savvies, Number Portability is simply technology that allows the movement of a GSM number from one network operator to another without the number changing. Meaning, for example, you can decide to stop using GLO and change to Etisalat or stop using Airtel and change to MTN; and your GSM number will still remain the same. Did I just hear someone scream, “American Wonder!”? Yes, it is “do-able”… how it is done, is another matter entirely; but yes it is!

Basically, the motivation whole idea is to create “healthy” competition amongst the network operators and sort of force them into improving the quality of their services being and (or) at the same time, bring down prices significantly. Also, giving the user the “freedom” of choice – the freedom to move from one network to the other without the hassles of losing contacts, the freedom to end their relationship with any operator they are not happy with. That is the official line from the NCC, but could there be something else in it that we do not see yet!?

So, while the mass of teeming GSM users await the new Number Portability scheme to kick-off in earnest. The Telco companies have wasted no time in launching not-so-subtle attacks against each other. Not quite the dividends Nigerians are expecting from the introduction of “porting”; hopefully they will soon drop the bickering and get down to the real business of improving their services and reviewing their tariffs for the betterment of all.

So get ready Nigeria… a new word may just have been added to our already vast, unique collection of slangs; and knowing how humorously creative the average Nigerian can be, I have no doubt that we will definitely be seeing and hearing several exquisite variations and use of the word “port” in the coming weeks!