12, Bello Sola Street,
Off Aguda Lane,
ljullshaga.
Lagos. 22 May, 2006.

Dear Sumonu,
Compliment of the season. I hope you are doing fine. And how's your work, have you been moved to the company's Essex office as you wrote to tell us last month? We are all fine here in Nigeria. it is just that the economic situation in the country is not improving appreciably. Baba will be celebrating his Iwuye soon. we all hope you will come home then.
Sumonu, do you know that there has been a major reform in the telecommunications industry since the last time you visited the country. Just recently. the government gave licences to private investors to operate the Global System of Mobile Telecommunications, otherwise called GSM, in the country. With this introduction, communication has been made very easy. People can make and receive calls anywhere and at any time with their mobile phones. This change has brought about positive effects in the lives of the majority of the people. You need to be here to see what I'm talking about.
First, the cost of doing business in the country has been drastically reduced. People no longer pay exhorbitant fees to acquire a telephone line as was the case when NITEL was the only telecommunications service provider. As a result, prices of goods have gone down.
Secondly, the introduction of GSM services has reduced the crime rate in the country. Unlike before, people can easily call in security operatives, particularly the police. in an emergency situation as they now have access to phones; do you know that carpenters, shoemakers, tailors, now carry about GSM phones. This discourages crimes such as burglary and robbery as the criminals know that they can easily be caught if a victim or his neighbour calls in the police using their mobile phones.
The introduction of GSM has also reduced the rate of accidents on our roads, since people travel less. Before the introduction of GSM, people were forced to travel often, when a phone call could have taken care of or prevent such journeys, because they have no access to telephone. But now that GSM is readily available and relatively affordable, people find it easier to conduct their businesses, both private and official, on the phone and travel only when it is absolutely necessary.
GSM has also increased the knowledge base of the majority of the people. Most Nigerians are now better informed about local and international events, especially government policies, as news items and information are easily disseminated through the SMS (short message service) services provided, by the GSM operators. Thus, the mobile phone owner can get news items at minimal cost on his phone at any time of the day or night. Also, the introduction of GSM has greatly reduced the financial strain on many families who have relations abroad, as they can easily and speedily get in touch with those relations when they are in need of money. There are so men other. positive effects of the GSM but which I will not be able to enumerate here. Sumonu, I hope you will take advantage of this new technology by sending money to our parents to get their own GSM, so that we can easily and often communicate with you. I am sure with the GSM, even this letter I am writing would have been unnecessary.
Please extend my greetings to Bola and Bimbo. they must both be big now. I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Gbenga