Telecom

Nigeria : Operators to suspend USSD services over banks' unpaid US$185.7mln bill

Nigeria : Operators to suspend USSD services over banks' unpaid US$185.7mln bill
Friday, 30 September 2022 17:24

A USSD code is a quick code that allows access to some additional services via SMS messages. Banks and other financial service providers use USSD to facilitate access to their services in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 28 percent of the population has access to the Internet (according to the GSMA).

Nigerian banks and financial institutions may soon be denied access to the unstructured supplementary services data (USSD) provided by telecom operators. On September 29, 2022, Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), revealed that those actors failed to pay a bill of NGN80 billion (about US$185.7 million) for the services they were rendered. 

Banks deduct charges from their customers but refuse to pay telecom operators. You don’t expect us to keep rendering services when you don’t pay,” he indicated.

In 2021, telecom operators had threatened to stop rendering their USSD services to financial institutions, still over unpaid invoices. The accumulated bill was NGN42 billion at the time. The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) got involved, helping find a compromise solution, including the introduction of NGN6.9 (US$0.016) per transaction as a new fee for customers using USSD services.

If the threat is carried out, it will greatly affect the financial services offered to Nigerians, creating revenue shortfalls for banks. “...Bank customers will not be able to make ATM withdrawals or do transfers as well as other digital banking related services if the telecommunications operators withdraw their services,” Mr. Adebayo said. 

Isaac K. Kassouwi

On the same topic
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo • License award comes on stream as part of the...
MTN Nigeria launched a 100 million naira startup accelerator starting September The 12-week program offers funding, mentorship, and tech...
The MTN Nigeria Dabengwa Tier 3 Data Centre is more than just a physical infrastructure project — it’s a foundational investment in Nigeria’s digital...
Chad begins drafting a manual to implement its National Digital Health Program Aims to ease doctor shortages via telemedicine and digital...
Most Read
01

• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...

Coffee: Global Consumption Expected to Reach Record Level in 2025/2026
02

In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital fi...

In Five Years, Francophone Africa Will be A Major Force in African Tech –Régis Bamba
03

• Burkina Faso-based financial group, Vista Group Holding, has acquired a majority stake in Société ...

Burkina Faso: Vista Group Acquires Controlling Stake in Société Générale
04

Transport and food prices have been climbing steadily across Africa in recent years. In Côte d’Ivoir...

Côte d’Ivoire’s Fuel Price Cuts Haven’t Slashed Transport Costs–Yet
05

• Kenyan President William Ruto signs strategic partnership with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to b...

William Ruto in London: New Agreement Aims to Double Kenya-UK Trade by 2030
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com 
Téls: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.