Nigeria’s telecom operators have kept Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services active as banks make significant progress in repaying their ₦160 billion debt, preventing disruptions for millions of users.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had warned that nine banks faced disconnection by January 27, 2024, over unpaid charges dating back to 2019. However, swift repayments helped de-escalate the situation, according to Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria.

The affected banks include Fidelity Bank, FCMB, Jaiz Bank, Polaris Bank, Sterling Bank, UBA, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, and Zenith Bank. A structured three-phase payment plan requires banks to clear 60% of outstanding debts by January 2025, with full settlement expected by December 2025.