Banks Settle 95% of N180bn USSD Debt, 3 Lenders Still Owing – ALTON

Commercial banks in Nigeria have cleared 95% of the N180 billion owed to telecom operators for USSD services, according to the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed this during a virtual briefing on the recent migration to end-user billing for USSD.

He confirmed that only three banks are yet to complete their payments, though they are on an agreed instalment plan and now have just one instalment left.

Shift to End-User Billing

Adebayo noted that debt settlement was a prerequisite for the transition to end-user billing. Under the new system, USSD charges will be deducted from users’ mobile airtime instead of their bank accounts.

One major bank has already been successfully migrated, with others set to follow.

The migration is optional; banks that prefer the previous corporate billing model may retain it—provided they clear all outstanding debts.

Adebayo assured that telecom operators will ensure smooth transactions, but warned that billing failures caused by banks may still occur.

“If there’s a deduction from both airtime and bank account, that’s double billing. Customers should contact their bank, as they’re not supposed to be charged twice,” he said.

No Extra Cost to Customers

Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at MTN Nigeria, stated that customers will continue to pay the N6.98 per 120-second session, now charged via airtime instead of bank debit.

She added that operators remain committed to transparency and are required by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide monthly performance data and standardised error messages for USSD use.

The move to end-user billing follows a directive from the NCC in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other stakeholders. ALTON said the framework is aimed at ensuring a sustainable, transparent, and customer-friendly approach to USSD services in Nigeria’s growing digital financial ecosystem.