Except there is any other intervention, indications emerged Monday that the telecoms operators have concluded plans to suspend the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) over the non-compliance of the deposit money banks (DMBs) to the payment of the protracted N250 billion debt.

The suspension of the USSD service is expected in two weeks due to the failure of the banks to comply with the December 23, 2024 joint directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which required them to make part payment of the debt by December 31, 2024.

It was gathered on Monday that only four of the owing banks have made substantial payments, while 18 banks have not responded adequately.

Sources within the telecoms space said the two weeks is to prepare subscribers for the eventuality of the suspension of the service.

The sources, who were emphatic, said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has already approved the suspension, stressing that if nothing happens after the suspension on the part of the DMBs, the USSD service will be revoked. (The Guardian)