Telecom users to pay directly for USSD services from June 18
Starting from Wednesday, June 18, 2025, mobile phone users in Nigeria will begin paying directly to their network providers for using USSD services.
This was announced in a statement by the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, and the group’s Publicity Secretary, Damian Udeh.
According to Adebayo, this change follows the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) guidelines for USSD pricing and service, developed with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other partners.
He explained that under the new system, telecom companies will charge customers directly from their airtime at the rate of ₦6.98 for every 120 seconds of USSD use. He also said users will receive a message to give their consent before any money is deducted, and charges will only apply for successfully completed sessions.
Adebayo assured that USSD banking services will still work as usual, as long as users have enough airtime.
“USSD services play a vital role in expanding access to financial services, particularly for unbanked and underbanked populations.
“However, 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.
“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.
“To achieve the implementation of the EUB model, the CBN and NCC have stipulated that only banks that meet certain regulatory and operational conditions are permitted to migrate,” Adebayo noted.
He advised users to contact their telecom providers for connection problems and to reach out to their banks for issues related to transactions.
“To ensure a smooth transition, we urge subscribers to follow support guidelines, and alternative digital banking channels such as mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs remain fully operational,” he said.
Adebayo added that ALTON will keep working with the NCC, CBN, banks, and other partners to ensure the new system is fair and beneficial to everyone, especially customers.
This new method is being introduced because of the ongoing dispute between Nigerian banks and telecom operators over unpaid USSD fees.
Back in December 2024, the CBN and NCC told mobile network operators and banks to settle the ₦250 billion debt related to USSD services. Telecom operators had threatened to stop USSD services if the banks didn’t pay. In January, the NCC warned that USSD services might be suspended and said it might release a list of banks that still owed telecom operators.
On January 15, telcos were ordered to disconnect the USSD codes of nine banks by January 27 because of their unpaid debts.
Later, on February 28, MTN Nigeria announced that it had received ₦32 billion out of the ₦72 billion owed by banks as part of the USSD debt repayment.
