No More Free Codes! Telecom Operators To Hit Nigerians With USSD Fees This Week

Beginning Wednesday, June 18, 2025, mobile subscribers across Nigeria will start incurring direct charges for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) sessions from their respective telecom operators.

This development was confirmed in a joint statement by Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and Damian Udeh, the group’s Publicity Secretary.

According to Adebayo, the move is in line with the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) 2025 directive on USSD pricing, which was developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other relevant stakeholders.

Under the new End-User Billing (EUB) model, customers will now be billed directly by mobile operators at a rate of ₦6.98 per 20 seconds of USSD usage, with deductions made from their airtime balances. Importantly, subscribers will be prompted to give consent before any charges are applied, and billing will occur only for successfully completed sessions.

Adebayo clarified that while the payment structure is changing, USSD banking services will remain fully available, provided users have sufficient airtime.

He explained that the previous system — where banks were billed by telcos — led to frequent disputes, unpaid debts, and disruptions in service, negatively affecting users. The introduction of the EUB model aims to resolve these long-standing issues and ensure more stable and accountable service delivery.

Only banks that meet certain regulatory and operational standards will be allowed to adopt the new billing model, according to the NCC and CBN.

Adebayo encouraged customers to contact their mobile service providers for connectivity issues and their banks for transaction-related concerns. He also urged users to make use of alternative banking channels such as mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs, which remain fully operational.

He reassured the public of ALTON’s commitment to working with regulators and stakeholders to ensure a smooth and transparent transition, particularly for the benefit of end-users.

This change stems from a prolonged conflict between banks and telcos over unpaid USSD charges, totaling about ₦250 billion. In December 2024, the CBN and NCC intervened, instructing banks and mobile network operators to resolve the debt.

In January 2025, the NCC warned of possible USSD service suspension and announced plans to publish a list of debtor banks. On January 15, the commission ordered the disconnection of USSD access for nine defaulting banks, effective January 27.

As of February 28, MTN Nigeria confirmed it had received ₦32 billion from banks as part-payment for its USSD-related claims of ₦72 billion.