Pantami: USSD challenge encountered by MTN users to be resolved soon

Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, says the challenge encountered by MTN users 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.

In a message sent to its customers, MTN asked users to recharge their lines through physical cards.

“Dear Customer, our bank recharge channels are currently unavailable. Kindly recharge using physical cards. We apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you,” the message reads.

Reacting in a tweet, Pantami said the difficulty was due to a fallout between MTN Nigeria and some banks.

He, however, did not provide the names of the affected banks.

The minister said he had engaged with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), adding that the issue will be resolved soon.

“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!” the tweet reads.

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!

— Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim, CON (@ProfIsaPantami) April 2, 2021

TheCable had reported how telcos announced their plan to suspend USSD services over N42 billion debt owed by financial service providers.

However, the decision was suspended following Pantami’s intervention.

In a meeting headed by the minister, mobile network operators (MNOs) and deposit money banks (DMBs) had agreed to reduce the charge on customers to N6.98 for each USSD transaction.