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Telcos to deduct USSD session fees from airtime at N6.98 per 120 seconds
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Customers must opt in before charges are applied; only successful sessions billed.
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The move ends years of disputes between banks and telcos over unpaid USSD debts.
From Wednesday, June 18, 2025, mobile subscribers in Nigeria will start paying directly from their airtime for all USSD transactions, as telecom operators migrate to the End-User Billing (EUB) model under the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) confirmed the new billing method in a statement on Tuesday, saying it followed the Determination of USSD Pricing and Services issued by the NCC in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
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According to ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, the migration to end-user billing ensures greater transparency, sustainability, and improved user experience.
“This change eliminates double billing and makes telcos accountable to customers directly,” he stated.
Under the new policy:Customers will be charged N6.98 per 120-second session directly from their airtime.
Users will get an opt-in prompt before charges are applied.
Only completed and successful sessions will be billed.
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Disruptions caused by previous corporate billing disputes are expected to end.
The move ends the corporate billing arrangement where telcos billed banks for USSD access—a model that frequently led to unpaid debts and disruptions to mobile banking services.
ALTON said banks are required to inform customers in advance and meet operational conditions set by the NCC. Both banks and telecom operators are expected to provide responsive support during the migration.
