MTN has been experiencing disruptions in USSD and some other services offered jointly by MTN and commercial banks due to disagreements between the two parties over commission and service charges. This action has led to its customers being unable to use USSD codes to purchase airtime from their respective banks.
Over 77 million MTN subscribers were disconnected from all banking channels by the commercial banks due to disagreements over banks’ commission reduced by the mobile network operator from an average of 3.5% to 2.5%.
In an earlier written communication with MTN, the commercial banks were reported to have asked for a reversal to the old commission, or they would block MTN airtime recharge services in all their channels.
All the commercial banks, except Zenith Bank, were connected directly to MTN, barred MTN from their banking channels, leaving many MTN subscribers stranded and frustrated as they could not recharge airtime USSD and bank apps amid the Easter celebrations.
However, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had waded into the matter and promised a resolution of the issues.
As a result of the disconnection, MTN is currently exploring other electronic payment platforms to recharge their phones. Fortunately, they seem to have found some alternatives customers can use for the meantime while this issue is being resolved.
MTN, in its statement, said, “It will interest you to note that for the benefit of our customers whose the service suspension has greatly inconvenienced, we now have alternative channels of accessing MTN services electronically. Below is the list and links to access the various alternative platforms:
- MTN On Demand is on *904# and also via mtnondemand.flutterwave.com;
- Barter By Flutterwave (app);
- Jumia Pay (app);
- OPay (app);
- MTN Xtratime airtime loans (*606#);
- Carbon (app);
- Kuda (app);
- BillsnPay (app and web);
- myMTN Web;
- Momo agent *223#.
