Commercial banks in Nigeria have blocked MTN Nigeria subscribers from using the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes.
This was due to MTN’s reduction of the commissions it pays out to banks and fintech firms on the sales of airtime and data. The telco had reduced the commission from 3.5% to 2.5% which did not go down well with banks.
After written appeals to MTN failed, the banks disconnected the telco and as a result, its customers were unable to buy data and airtime using USSD codes. They have had to resort to buying the paper card.
MTN Nigeria confirmed the development in a mail sent to some of its clients, which in part reads:
“Dear Customer, Please be informed that some Mycustomers may not be able to purchase airtime, and data recharge via banks including MOD, and myMTNApp. Please pacify Mycustomers and educate them to use MTNTopit, MoMo channels, as well as the debit card options on MOD or myMTN App.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says it has intervened in an imbroglio between Nigerian banks and MTN.
Talks to resolve a row over the sharing of fees on airtime sales between the two sides “reached an advanced stage” for suspended services to be restored, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, announced on Twitter late Friday.
