FG orders immediate suspension of alleged USSD service charge by MTN

The Federal Ministry of Communications, has ordered the immediate suspension of the alleged four naira (N4:00) charge per 20 seconds on USSD access to banking services by MTN Nigeria, as the ministry was not aware of such charges.

The Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Pantami, who gave the directive on Sunday in a press statement signed by his spokesperson, Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, asked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the operator suspends such plans until he is fully briefed.

The statement read: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Communications has been drawn to the viral text message allegedly sent by the Mobile Network Operator MTN Nigeria and other Mobile Operators notifying subscribers of a four naira (N4:00) charge per 20 seconds on USSD access to banking services from the 21st of October 2019.

“The office of the Honourable Minister of Communications Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM is unaware of this development and has hereby directed the sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) ensures the operator suspends such plans until the Honourable Minister is fully and properly briefed.”

MTN had earlier sent a message to its mobile customers stating: “Yello, Please note that from Oct 21, we will charge N4 per 20 seconds for USSD access to banking services. Thank you.”