Consortium of Nigerian Telecoms operators have reached out to the Nigerian Communications Commission for approval to phase out the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data offered to banks due to over N80bn.
The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said that the operators had sought regulatory approval to implement partial removal of the USSD services.
According to him, the disconnection would be done in batches, starting with the highest debtor immediately after they get approval.
“We have sought regulatory approval to pursue partial removal. We would start disconnecting those who owe us in batches, a highest debtor scenario. We don’t know as regards the timing because we are required to get approval before acting. But we would certainly commence the process once it is approved. The amount is over N80bn, it is not yet up to N90bn, but it is up to that.”
ALTON through its Head of Operations, Gbolahan Awonuga, made it clear that the debt had become huge, necessitating the need for regulatory approval to do the needful so as to enable ALTON members begin the gradual phase-out may occur around the first quarter of 2023.
