NCC Directs Telcos To Disconnect Nine Banks From USSD Platform

Telecom operators (telcos) have been instructed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to disconnect the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) codes that were linked to nine banks because of outstanding debts.

The NCC’s director of public affairs, Reuben Muoka, signed a statement stating that if the banks fail to pay their outstanding USSD charges, the disconnection will occur on January 27.

“Nigerian Communications Commission hereby notifies members of the public that it is grunting approval to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to disconnect Unstructuted Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Codes assigned by the Commission to financial institutions which are indebted to the MNOs if such institutions do not settle the outstanding invoices by Monday, January 27, 2025,” the statement reads.

“The Commission will thereafter recover such Codes and may reassign them to other applicants in accordance with the applicable instruments.

“In fulfilment of its consumer protection mandate, the Commission wishes to inform consumers that they may be unable to access the USSD platform of the affected financial institutions from January 27, 2025

“By the information made available to the Commission at close of business on Tuesday, 14th January 2025, of a total of 18 financial institutions, the 9 institutions listed below have failed to comply significantly with the directives in the Second Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Commission dated December 20, 2024 for the settlement of outstanding invoices due to MNOS, some since 2020.

“The financial institutions’ failure to comply with the CBN-NCC Joint Circular also means that they are unable to meet the Good Standing requirements for the renewal of the USSD Codes assigned to them by the Commission.

“The financial institutions have been duly notified of the need for immediate compliance in accordance with the Commission’s Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria, 2023.”

Due to bank debt of N42 billion (compared to N32 billion in 2019), telcos threatened to terminate USSD service on March 12, 2021.

However, Isa Pantami, the former minister of communications and digital economy, blocked the proposal.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli