Telecommunications operators are set to suspend Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services in two weeks due to the failure of deposit money banks (DMBs) to settle a long-standing N250 billion debt.
The suspension is expected unless there is an intervention to address the non-compliance with payment requirements.
The planned suspension comes after the banks failed to comply with a joint directive issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on December 23, 2024.
The directive required the banks to make partial payments of the debt by December 31, 2024.
According to sources, only four banks have made significant payments, while 18 others have not responded adequately.
Telecom industry insiders revealed that the two-week notice is to give subscribers time to prepare for the service disruption.
They also confirmed that the NCC has approved the suspension.
If the banks fail to act after the two-week period, the suspension could become permanent, and the USSD service could be revoked entirely.
