MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola has confirmed that the long-standing dispute between banks and telecom operators over USSD debt has been fully resolved. Speaking on Arise TV, Toriola stated, “I can confirm that the matter has been fully resolved. We have received payments in full. Special thanks to the CBN, NCC, the banks, and other stakeholders that intervened in the matter.”
The USSD debt had been a major point of contention between banks and telcos, with the debt pegged at N160 billion as of November 2024. However, after the NCC directed telcos to withdraw USSD services from debt-owning banks, the banks complied with payments.
Meanwhile, Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), revealed that telecom subscribers may soon be charged for USSD services through deductions from their airtime. Adebayo said, “So, we have now commenced discussion to migrate to end-user billing without disruption to services by subscribers… The conversation has started; there is a migration process that we are going to agree with the banks.
Adebayo explained that end-user billing would involve debiting customers’ airtime for USSD sessions, rather than banks being charged. He noted that this would help prevent accumulated debts and stated, “This will be the end solution to the issue of USSD debts, which is what the banks have been clamouring for.”
The proposal for end-user billing has been discussed between banks and telcos for years, with the banks advocating for the system to avoid accumulated debts. Subscribers are currently charged N6.98 for every USSD transaction
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