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Disconnection Impasse: MTN Opts For Opay, Flutterwave, Kuda, Others

Published

4 years ago

Apr 3, 2021.

MTN, MTN/Banks Fallout: We're Working To Resolve USSD Difficulty – FG

MTN has 77.35 million subscribers, according to latest industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Nigeria’s major telecommunication company, MTN, says it’s exploring other electronic payment platforms for its customers to recharge their phones amid fall out with financial institutions.

Recall that commercial banks disconnected MTN customers from using their infrastructure and channels to perform any transaction, especially recharging of their mobile line.

Sequel to the development, the Mobile Network Operator, in a statement on Saturday said it’s looking at redirecting its subscribers to other platforms owned by fintech companies.

The alternative channels include payment solutions platforms such as Flutterwave, Jumia Pay, OPay, Kuda, Carbon and BillsnPay.

MTN, in the statement by its Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, also disclosed customers could recharge airtime by dialing *904# and *606#.

Ekohotblog had earlier reported that millions of telecommunications subscribers were left helpless on Friday as commercial banks blocked MTN customers from banking channels including the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and banking apps.

MTN/Banks Fallout: We're Working To Resolve USSD Difficulty – FG

MTN Raises $1.6b For Expansion

How the imbroglio started

The telco had reduced the banks’ commission from an average of 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent which predicated the actions of the banks.

The banks had written MTN to revert to the old commission, otherwise, they would block MTN airtime in all their channels but the telco company called the bluff of the banks and refused to revert to status quo

The banks, except Zenith Bank which was connected directly to MTN, subsequently blocked MTN from their banking channels, leaving many MTN subscribers frustrated as they were unable to recharge airtime via USSD amid the Easter celebrations.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had weighed in and promised that the matter would be resolved. “We have reached an advance stage of resolving the issues, for the services to be restored to our citizens,” he had said.

But in the statement on Saturday, MTN said, “It will interest you to note that for the benefit of our customers who have been greatly inconvenienced by the service suspension, 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 https://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#

“The Apps can be downloaded from the Playstore and the Appstore.”