NCC Orders Disconnection of USSD Services for Nine Banks Over Unpaid Debts.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed telecom operators to disconnect USSD services of nine financial institutions due to unpaid debts, with enforcement set for January 27, 2025, if the banks fail to settle their obligations.
The affected banks include 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.
According to the NCC, some debts have been outstanding since 2020. The directive, signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, was issued following the banks’ failure to adhere to a joint directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and NCC to clear outstanding invoices owed to telecom operators.
The notice highlights potential disruptions in mobile banking services if the debts remain unresolved, warning that USSD codes such as 770, 919, and 822 may be reassigned to other applicants.
These codes are essential for delivering banking services to customers without internet access. “Of the 18 financial institutions reviewed, nine have failed to comply significantly with the directives in the Second Joint Circular from the CBN and NCC issued on December 20, 2024,” part of the notice reads.
The commission emphasized the urgency of settling outstanding debts to avoid disruptions that could affect millions of mobile banking users.
