By OFFOR CALLISTUS, Abuja-
Starting June 18, 2025, telecom subscribers in Nigeria will be charged directly by their mobile network operators for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, announced this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Mr. Adebayo said subscribers will be charged N6.98 for every 120 seconds of USSD usage, which will be deducted from their airtime balance.
He said before the deduction, customers will receive a prompt to opt-in and approve the charge, and billing will only occur for successful sessions.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that this change is part of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) determination of USSD pricing and services, developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other stakeholders.
He said the new billing model, known as the End-User Billing (EUB) model, aims to resolve the long-standing N250 billion USSD debt dispute between banks and telcos.
Adebayo assured that the change won’t affect USSD banking services’ availability or functionality, stating that “USSD services play a vital role in expanding access to financial services, particularly for unbanked and underbanked populations.”
“The previous corporate billing model where banks were billed by telecom operators led to prolonged disputes over unpaid charges, service interruptions, and uncertainty for customers,” Adebayo noted.
“To address these challenges, the NCC’s 2025 determination introduced the End-User Billing (EUB) model, which allows mobile network operators to charge customers directly for USSD sessions.”
Adebayo advised customers to contact their mobile network operator for access issues and banks for transaction-related issues, adding, “To ensure a smooth transition, we urge subscribers to follow support guidelines, alternative digital banking channels such as mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs remain fully operational.”
ALTON has reiterated its commitment to working closely with the NCC, CBN, financial institutions, and stakeholders to ensure a seamless, equitable, and beneficial transition for all parties, especially end-users.
