From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
President of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, has hinted that the group may halt rendering of service to banks over accumulated N80 billion debt.
He said the debt rose from N42 billion last year to the present status of N80 billion. This becomes more infuriating as the group claimed that the banks are not cooperating in repaying the debts despite government mediations.
Speaking further, Adebayo said operators will have no choice but to disconnect some banks from the networks if they fail to pay.
Adebayo spoke at the ICT Growth Conference organized by the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) which was held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
He said “Banks want us to keep quiet about USSD debt, but it won’t go away until you pay. At last count, the debt is now 80 billion naira. Some banks respond and some do not. We are close to the time when we have no choice but to stop providing services to banks.
“I think it’s a shame that our colleagues in the sector know they have an obligation to service providers and walk away from it.
Banks cancel fees from their customers but refuse to pay telecom operators. Do not expect us to continue to provide services when you do not pay.
“The irony is that if that’s the case, you can’t owe the bank a cent,” he added.
The telecommunications companies under the auspices of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), last year threatened to withdraw unregulated Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services to financial institutions due to the accumulated debt of N42 billion, but the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Communications Commission of Nigeria (NCC), the planned action with both parties (telecoms and banks) was suspended, going to a meeting with representatives of the Federal Government.
