USSD Charges (1).webp
Nigeria’s banks and telecom giants are locked in a high-stakes standoff over USSD fees, with telcos threatening to withdraw banking services if ₦250bn in unpaid debts isn’t cleared. Customers risk losing access to *737# transactions unless regulators intervene.

  • Banks shifted USSD charges to airtime, claiming NCC approval but telcos call it a "misleading twist."
  • MTN, Airtel, others may suspend USSD services if banks don’t settle debts.
  • Customers face disruption: Rural users and traders reliant on USSD could suffer most.
  • Regulatory clash: NCC and CBN brokered the deal, will they enforce it?
This isn’t just corporate drama, it’s about who foots the bill for Nigeria’s cashless economy. Banks want customers to pay via airtime; telcos insist banks clear debts first. Meanwhile, ordinary Nigerians, from market traders to salary earners, risk collateral damage. The real question: Why must customers always bear the cost of industry fights?

Will banks pay up, or will USSD services go dark? And could this push more Nigerians toward banking apps?