NCC Orders Telcos to Cut USSD Services for Nine Banks: What It Means

Nigerian Banks Face USSD Disconnection: Key Insights from NCC’s Order

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications companies to disconnect the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes of nine banks due to unpaid debts.

The affected banks are Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc. The USSD codes in question include 770, 919, and 822.

The NCC has mandated that these banks settle their outstanding obligations by January 27, 2025, to avoid losing access to their USSD codes. If the debts remain unpaid by this date, the codes may be reassigned to other applicants.

This action follows a prolonged dispute between the banks and telecommunications operators over USSD-related debts, which initially exceeded N200 billion. Some invoices have reportedly been unpaid since 2020.

USSD services are vital for mobile banking, enabling users to perform financial transactions without internet access. The NCC’s directive underscores the importance of timely settlement of financial obligations to maintain uninterrupted access to these essential services.