Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, has said the challenge encountered by MTN users to recharge through the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel will be resolved soon.
MTN subscribers took to social media on Friday to lament difficulty in recharging their lines through mobile banking applications and USSD channels.
Confirming this in a message sent to its customers, MTN asked users to recharge their lines through physical cards.
Read Also: N42bn Debt: Bank Recharge Channels Via USSD Unavailable – MTN
The message reads;
Dear Customer, our bank recharge channels are currently unavailable. Kindly recharge using physical cards. We apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you.
Reacting in a tweet, Pantami said the difficulty was due to a fallout between MTN Nigeria and some banks but did not provide the names of the affected banks.
The minister said he had engaged with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), adding that the issue will be resolved soon.
He tweeted;
On the fallout between MTN Nigeria and some banks on USSD services today, I engaged with both regulators, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and EVC Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). We have reached an advance stage of resolving the issues, for the services to be restored to our citizens. Many thanks!.
On the fallout between @MTNNG and some banks on USSD services today, I engaged with both regulators, the Governor of @cenbank and EVC @NgComCommission. We have reached an advance stage of resolving the issues, for the services to be restored to our citizens. Many thanks!
— Isa Ali Pantami, PhD (@DrIsaPantami) April 2, 2021
It was gathered that the development was not unconnected to the N42bn debt that banks owed mobile operators.
It would be recalled that telcos including MTN under the aegis of Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) threatened to disconnect banks from USSD services over debt.
Read Also: CBN Introduces New Charges For USSD Transactions
The disconnection which was supposed to take effect from March 15, 2021 was stopped by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy,Isa Pantami.
In resolving the issue, the minister convened a meeting of Central Bank Of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission. Subsequently, both parties introduced a flat fee of N6.98 per transaction every time customers use USSD services.
CBN and NCC also said a settlement plan for outstanding payments incurred for USSD services, previously rendered by mobile network operators was being worked out by all parties in a bid to ensure that the matter is fully resolved.
However, a top source in the sector, who craved anonymity, told ThePUNCH that banks were unwilling to pay the N42bn debt but rather want to start deducting the debt afresh from customers using the USSD services.
