The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecom operators to disconnect USSD codes assigned to nine banks over unresolved debts.
In a notice signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the commission set a compliance deadline of January 27, 2025, for the affected financial institutions. Failure to pay the outstanding debts could result in the reassignment of the USSD codes, essential for mobile banking services.
The directive stems from a prolonged financial dispute, with some debts dating back to 2020. The total initial debt was over N200 billion, but the current amount owed by the nine banks has not been disclosed.
The banks include Fidelity Bank, FCMB, Jaiz Bank, Polaris Bank, Sterling Bank, UBA, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, and Zenith Bank, with popular USSD codes like 770 and 919 at risk. The NCC emphasized that customers may face service disruptions if the banks fail to settle the obligations.
