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  • Banks, Telcos Agree Customers To Pay N6.98k For USSD Services

    Banks, Telcos Agree Customers To Pay N6.98k For USSD Services

     

    Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have reached an agreement to charge bank customers a flat rate of N6.98k per transaction for the use of the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) offered banks by telecoms operators (Telcos).

     

    The agreement was reached at a meeting on Monday, following months of protracted disagreement concerning the appropriate USSD pricing model for financial transactions carried out by bank customers using the USSD code.

     

    Before Monday’s intervention, telecom operators had threatened to suspend USSD services to banks over the unpaid charges that had accumulated to N42 billion.

     

    The USSD is a critical channel for delivering financial services, particularly for the underserved and the financially excluded, offered by telecoms operators to banks.

     

    In order to resolve the lingering issues and ensure uninterrupted services to bank customers on the channel, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, on Monday, chaired a meeting of key stakeholders to resolve the issue.

     

    The various MNOs, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators (ALTON), Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the banks and the sector regulators, the CBN and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), attended the meeting.

     

    In a communiqué released yesterday and jointly signed by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications at CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, and the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the parties resolved that with effect from yesterday, USSD services for financial transactions conducted at DMBs and all CBN-licensed institutions will be charged at a flat rate of N6.98k per transaction.

     

    This replaces the current per session billing structure, ensuring a much cheaper average cost for customers.

     

    It said: “To promote transparency, the new USSD charges will be collected on behalf of MNOs directly from customers’ bank accounts. Banks shall not impose additional charges on customers for the use of the USSD channel. A settlement plan for outstanding payments incurred for USSD services previously rendered by the MNOs is being worked out by all parties in a bid to ensure that the matter is fully resolved. MNOs and DMBs shall agree on the operational modalities for the implementation of the new USSD pricing framework, including sharing of Application Programme Interface (API), to enable seamless, direct and transparent customer billing.”

     

    It was then resolved that the impending suspension of DMBs from the USSD channel be vacated.

     

  • Trade Restrictions Policy To Protect Local Industries, Emefiele Tells Okonjo-Iweala as WTO DG Proposes Remedies

    Trade Restrictions Policy To Protect Local Industries, Emefiele Tells Okonjo-Iweala as WTO DG Proposes Remedies

     

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday defended the apex bank’s restrictive trade policy, stressing that it was meant to protect local industries from unfavourable competition and to create jobs for Nigerians.

     

    He said with the country’s high unemployment rate, it was inevitable to create job opportunities and provide an enabling environment for the unemployed to live a gainful life.

     

    Emefiele, during a meeting with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in Abuja, assured the international community that Nigeria remains open to business from any part of the world.

     

    He also attributed the CBN’s policy to restrict foreign exchange to dairy companies which refused to align with its backward integration programme, to the need to protect the national interest.

     

    Emefiele’s clarification followed concerns raised by Okonjo-Iweala that the European Union (EU) had filed complaints about some of the CBN’s trade restriction policies before the organisation, particularly on the use of devaluation of the balance of payments agreement to protect the dairy industry.

     

    But Emefiele said the decision on dairy products was not taken unilaterally by the apex bank, adding that about six major industry players unanimously agreed to take action against those opposed to the backward integration plan to boost job creation.

     

    He said: “We do know one way or the other, people may have said a few things about the way we have conducted our trade, but I think it’s important for me to say that some of those things have been done to also help protect our own industries.

    “We need to give a chance for our local industries to create jobs and employment.

     

    “The unemployment rate in Nigeria, I dare say, is very high. Our youthful population of people of the age of about 18 to 40 is almost close to about 60 per cent of the population. You can use that to your advantage and you could also use that to your detriment.

     

    “The fact that we need to create jobs for this set of people, we need to create an enabling environment for this set of people to live a gainful life, means that we have a responsibility to do so and in doing so, we will need the support of institutions like yourself (WTO) to work with us.”

     

    Emefiele, however, added that even though the CBN may have faltered in some of its policy interventions, these could be rectified by working closely with the WTO.

     

    “We may have faltered in a few areas, I am not going to deny that, we will be willing to engage with you (WTO) in areas where we have concerns. And if those concerns are addressed, I want to assure you madam DG that we will work with you.

     

    “Nigeria is open to business in any part of the world and we will like to work with you,” he stated.

     

    On the policy action in the dairy sector, the CBN governor said: “We called a meeting about six years ago when I resumed. I said look, Nigeria has dairy potential by the cattle and the rest of them; let’s see what can be done. Nothing was done. We called dairy companies.

     

    “Two years ago, we started again, we said listen, we are going to start a programme where we are going to place FX restrictions on those who want to import dairy into Nigeria. Six of them came on board- Friesland and a few of them.

     

    “And at a meeting next door there, what did they say? They said, governor, you have been putting us under pressure to invest locally in the dairy industry- what do you do to those who are not doing anything about it?

     

    “At that meeting, we took a decision that those who are not embracing our own backward integration programme in the dairy industry should be restricted.

     

    “It was not my decision, it was a decision taken. Before you (Okonjo-Iweala) were probably born or before I was born, Friesland Campina has been importing milk into Nigeria, how come for over 60 years nothing has been done by this company to backward integrate and begin to produce dairy in Nigeria?

     

    “Does that mean Nigeria does not have the potential? The answer is no. So that’s why we in the monetary and fiscal authority must put everybody’s feet on fire so that the right things are done for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

     

    Emefiele said the current administration was serious about opening up the country to aid its economic diversification from oil to non-oil areas.

     

    He added: “We have those endowments, it is just that we have to work at it but we need the help of multilateral institutions like yourself to work with us. Luckily, you are there from Nigeria.

     

    “Of course, the transition of the Nigerian economy from oil to non-oil, whether we like it or not, we don’t have a choice.

     

    “It’s important that Nigeria really needs to sit up and talk about how to improve its transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure so that we begin to talk about how do we effectively move goods or food from farm to market in a way and then from the market, not only for domestic consumption but also for export.”

     

    He said the federal government was doing a lot in that direction, explaining that the president only a few months ago, approved the establishment of an infrastructure corporation where the CBN, AFC and NSIA will be raising equity of about N1 trillion and raise another N14 trillion from the debt market to see how Nigeria’s infrastructure, not just roads, could be developed.

     

    He explained further: “We talk about the ports and other areas where we think there are deficits that will help improve the logistics in Nigeria.

     

    “So, we will be calling on the private sector to come to work with us to see how we can achieve this. We are thinking effectively on how to aggressively resuscitate Nigeria’s commodity exchange again so that on one hand, you will find those buyers who want to buy goods and on other hand, the commodity exchange stands in-between to also negotiate and also buy from those who have produced those goods.”

     

    Emefiele, however, assured Okonjo-Iweala that the next three years will be exciting as the federal government, with the support of both the monetary and fiscal authorities is working to address inefficiencies that make it difficult for people to conduct their businesses.

     

    He said while the country would be engaging with the WTO team to resolve inherent issues, “we need to think of how can we open up Nigeria? We need your help in these areas.”

     

    Responding, Okonjo-Iweala proposed that the CBN’s concerns about protecting the local industries against dumping and cheap imports could be addressed by embracing the WTO trade remedies, rather than placing a ban on imports.

    She also commended efforts by Nigeria to establish a trade remedies authority so as to use “remedies as a tool to help our industries to grow.”

     

    She said: “I have to raise issues about the BoP (Balance of Payment). We have a complaint against us by the EU about the use of devaluation of the balance of payments’ agreement with respect to trying to protect the dairy industry.

     

    “And they feel that this is not the right instrument. So as DG WTO, I have to make this known. But this is an issue which you said you’d like to engage on in a little more details so we can discuss that later and how to go about it.

     

    “I want to say that the WTO has what we call trade remedies, which can help us without banning things to be able to protect our industries against dumping and cheap imports if we use those remedies.

     

    “I understand Nigeria is trying to establish a trade remedies authority and I want to strongly support that so we can use those remedies as a tool to help our industries to grow.”

     

    She also commended the CBN governor for his efforts in assisting to produce a private sector-led initiative that raised funds for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

     

    She said the pandemic had now “opened our eyes to see that we need to start doing something about the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria.”

     

    She stressed the need for the country to establish a strong pharmaceutical industry to cope with future challenges as well as create an enabling environment for them to thrive.

     

    According to her, Africa imports over 90 per cent of its pharmaceutical needs.

     

    She said: “With the population of the AfCFTA with a market of 1.3 billion people, which Nigeria is the largest with over 200 million people, I think there’s room.

     

    “We should ask ourselves the question you raised governor. Why is it that the pharmaceutical companies that opened here struggled and closed?

     

    “What are we doing to make sure this doesn’t happen and what are we doing to make sure that our own domestic manufacturers or pharmaceuticals have the appropriate environment they need?”

     

    “We have now seen what happens. If you have this pandemic and you don’t have some ability to provide, you have to wait.

    “I want to say that we have what it takes in this country, particularly in our young people, to do the necessary which is to look forward to how we are going to create jobs and move this economy in the direction that will support our youths in the future.”

     

  • EFCC Orders Bankers to Declare Assets by June 1

    EFCC Orders Bankers to Declare Assets by June 1

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given bank employees June 1, 2021 deadline to declare their assets.

     

    EFCC Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, told State House correspondents in Abuja after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday that the move was aimed at checking the role of banks in keeping funds acquired illegitimately.

     

    He stated that he discussed with the president efforts of the commission towards eradicating financial crimes.

     

    He said: “Let me just put this, we understood that at the tail end of every financial crime is for the criminal to have access to the funds that he or she has illegitimately gotten and we’re worried about the roles of financial institutions.

     

    “And we have discussed, but we hope that all financial institutions, particularly the bankers, will declare their assets as provided for by the law, in accordance with the Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act.

     

    “And that the EFCC, come the 1st of June 2021, will be demanding these asset declaration forms, filled by the bankers so that the line that we have drawn from the 1st of June is really complied with by bankers in particular,” he said.

     

    He added that the agency has arrested about 300 cybercriminals nationwide between February and March.

     

    “As a young man, I am appealing to all young Nigerians to desist from these cybercrime activities. It is bringing a bad image to our country. It is giving a bad name to our country. It is also chasing away a lot of foreign investment that we need.

     

    “And I call on all parents, guardians, and, of course, elders in the community, in the society to talk to these young people to desist from these crimes.

     

    “These are crimes that they commit online. And of course, there is nothing like patting your back to say go and sin no more. Our laws do not provide for that. It is a crime and as we say in EFCC, EFCC will get you anywhere, anytime,” Bawa said.

  • Pay-Per-View: Bilesanmi Reads The Riot Act To Pay-Tv Operators as ATCIS Celebrates 2021 World Consumer Right Day

    Pay-Per-View: Bilesanmi Reads The Riot Act To Pay-Tv Operators as ATCIS Celebrates 2021 World Consumer Right Day

    By ADEBAYO Adeniyi
    The National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), Hon Prince Sina Bilesanmi has expressed disappointment with the Pay TV operators in the country over their failure to implement the much desired pay-per-view regime by Nigerians.

     

    Bilesanmi made this known as the association joined the rest of the world to mark the Year 2021 World Consumer/ Subscriber Rights Day on 15th March 2021 in Port Harcourt.

     

    The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) is the nation’s number one subscriber advocacy body promoting subscribers’ interests as well as defending their rights with over 208 million telephone subscriber members across the six geopolitical areas of Nigeria.

     

    Since it was founded in 2014, ATCIS has been the leading telecom masses advocate.

     

    Speaking with his Excos members and press men at Port Harcourt in River State on his determination to continue to “SORO SO KE”, meaning speaking out and fighting for the rights of Nigerian Telephone, Cable TV and Internet subscribers, Hon Sina Bilesanmi aka OJUEKO, said over the years, in its sustained effort in protecting the interest and right of telecoms subscribers in Nigeria, the association, ATCIS has spent about N370 million since 2014 till date which has basically been on self- sponsored by members without Government agency like NCC, NBC,FCCPC and NIMC input.

     

    The association, he said, has made over 700 newspaper publications, both local and international as well as online news publication, radio and national television stations Interviews with about 98 landmark achievements so far.

     

    The ATCIS National President noted; “You and I have seen that indirectly, the operators of PAY TV control by NBC in Nigeria are doing everything to take us back to the past, when only a few people could afford to use the service. This may not be their direct action, but by implications, it is just more or less the same.

     

    “Today, we say NO to extortion of Nigerians by pay-tv operators in the country who have refused to listen to the laws of the land, pains and cries of the people as all they want is keep milking Nigerian subscribers even at a critical time such as this.”

     

    Bilesanmi said all subscribers in Nigeria are totally ashamed and disappointed with Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director of Multichoice, operators of DSTV/GOTV based on his response on Pay-As –You Go.

     

    Ugbe had said the company would not be able to implement the policy of PAYGO.

     

    According to him, Pay Per View (PPV), is most times confused for PAYGO model deployed by mobile telecommunication companies.

     

    The PAYGO model as offered in the telecommunication business is a metered service where consumers are billed only for the service they consume and not for a fixed period.

     

    However, the ATCIS President said with whatever figure out there, he believed the time the operators have spent in Nigeria is enough for them to learn how to treat Nigerian subscribers with fairness and empathy, given how much they make yearly from their operations in the country.

     

    He said on the contrary however, they have continued to be insensitive and nonchalant.

     

    “From where we stand, ATCIS can say that these people lack regards for subscribers satisfaction and sense of social responsibility.

    “To clear any doubt, this attribute manifested as the operators insisted on hiking subscription rates in Nigeria, even at the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic which had already wrecked havoc on the means of livelihood of many Nigerians.

     

    “MultiChoice and Startimes, for instance, insisted on collecting more from Nigerians. It was hell bent that Nigerians must pay more for the same service even when they earn less.

     

    Speaking further, Bilesanmi said; “On this matter, we have met MultiChoice and Startimes with a couple of times to iron things out. All our efforts and messages have been falling on deaf ears. In other countries, operators have had to soft-pedal on price increase in order not to burden their subscribers unnecessarily.”

     

    He noted that ATCIS remains resolute to ensure that pay-TV subscribers in Nigeria are treated with fairness by the operators.

     

    “We stand against price hikes that smack of extortion and exploitation. The fact that Nigerians are getting used to the pay-tv services does not mean we should be incurring more cost than necessary, especially as majority of the people spend only few hours to access the content. There should be fairness in pricing.”

     

    According to him, Pay-per-view is the way to go.

     

    “We have said this over and over again. The only thing that we want to say is that, pay-tv subscribers from the jaws of the operators are to start running Pay-per-view model. Years have passed and we are still on this matter. We are not asking the operators to give us the service pro bono, all we are saying is: let us pay only for what we watch and nothing more.

     

    “We are aware that ATCIS, the initiators who pushed pay as you go to Senate/House of Representative Committee on Communications recently summoned one of the operators to talk about the possibility of running pay-per-view subscription model in Nigeria. Of course, the response of the operators will always be predictable. They will keep telling us that technically, pay-per-view is not possible.

     

    “We are not surprised to hear this however. Something similar had happened before when we were made to believe that per seconds billing of GSM voice service was an illusion. But later, the impossibility suddenly became a possibility when another operator introduced per second billing system.

     

    “So, we refuse to buy the idea that pay-per-view is not possible in Nigeria because this same model is being used in some other countries.

     

    “We insist that there must be a new subscription regime for pay-tv operation in Nigeria. Even if the current subscription model would be retained, we need pay-per-view model to be another option. This will give people a choice.

     

    Speaking on NBC, Bilesanmi said ATCIS is worried to see that after the Nigerian authorities gave directives to the operators, Startimes, especially MultiChoice, the owner DSTV/GOTV to reduce subscription rates and introduce pay-per-view model, nothing has changed despite the clamour of the people’s.

     

    “To our utter disbelief, nobody has been sanctioned or called to face the music. We sometimes wonder if our government authorities are truly for us; or if at all they even possess the nerve to face those that are violating the laws of the land. Extortion of the people via pricing is not just a subtle offence; it is a serious issue that must be addressed.”

     

    “At this point, We demand that Nigerian authorities, such as the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy, Nigerian Communication Commission.(NCC), Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission and the National Assembly work together to carry out a cost-based research of the pay-tv market to be able to set floor and cap for subscription rates in the country.

     

    “Secondly, in respect of pay-per-view, ATCIS urge the authorities again to stop depending on only what they are told by operators as regards the technical possibility of the pay-per-view model. This is nothing but laziness on the part of the Nigerian authorities. We still remember vividly how such indolence in telecoms sector cost Nigerians billions of naira two decades ago because the authorities simply believed what they were told that per-second billing system was not possible.

     

    “Let the authorities do their thorough research regarding pay-per-view model and how it is being used in other countries and why Nigeria cannot be an exception. If they can do this, they would not need to be ladled by the operators whose primary intention, if not only interest, in Nigeria is to make money even at the expense of subscribers’ welfare.

     

    “To President Muhammadu Buhari , we believe now is the right time for this administration to fire leaders of those agencies that are not ready to work with him to promote the rights of subscribers through the agencies. So much is expected from National Broadcasting Commission, Nigerian Communication Commission, Orientation Agency, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC and others. The failure of the agencies will be blamed on the Buhari’s administration. The President must rise up and do something.

     

    “We can see that, through ATCIS the Nigerians have awakened to defend their rights and interests because they have waited for too long for the authorities to do the right thing but with no hope in sight.

     

     

    “Late Chief Awolowo said that, Nigerians will rise to fight for themselves because nobody will fight for them. Oppressor are Network Providers, Pay Tv investors like DSTV, GOTV, STARTIMES, the bad one’s among Govt agency, Lawmakers, Policy makers, who do not give freedom willingly for example ATCIS have demanded since March 10, 2020, today make it one year ago we demanded all this items listed from Govt agency in Nigeria (NCC, NBC & FCCPC ) they’re the major problem to 208 Million Subscribers from NCC & NBC to MNOs that;

     

    (1) As stakeholders; ATCIS must always be carried along.

     

    (2) Any products by Mobile Network Operators / Service Provider’s for Subscribers interest must seek ATCIS endorsement.

     

    (3) Improved quality of Telecom Services.

     

    (4) Reduction in the tariff’s of Data & Voice.

     

    (5) Drop call should be uncharged for.

     

    (6) Borrowing of funds at 15% interest rate is a high rate, ATCIS call for 5% charge’s

     

    (7) Affordable & Reliable internet service should be provided for Subscribers

     

    (8) Free data & call’s on every Nigeria independent day October 1st, just one day to all my members with over 200 million Subscribers yet to be implemented, NCC should take note,

     

    (9) Oppressor are those from NBC who are against Pay Per View or Pay As You Go (PPV or PAYG).

     

    “Until we Telecom Subscribers, Concerned Lawmakers, Policy makers, Govt. agency in Nigeria stand up together and demand for our rights as a King not a slave. Know your Rights as a Subscribers, Be Respected & Be protected. ATCIS is watching, ATCIS number is our Strength.

     

    Bilesanmi said the ATCIS Success Story achievements so far would be unveiled to all Subscribers at a Press Conference which will come up by next Month April 2021.

     

  • NEWS FLASH: Over 23 Million Nigerians Jobless As Unemployment Rate Hits 33.3%  -NBS

    NEWS FLASH: Over 23 Million Nigerians Jobless As Unemployment Rate Hits 33.3%  -NBS

     

    Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose from 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020 to 33.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020, the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed on Monday.

     

    The NBS stated in its report on ‘Labour force Statistics: Unemployment and underemployment report- Abridged labour force survey under COVID-19 (Q4, 2020) that this translates to 23.19 million unemployed people.

     

    Part of the report read, “During the reference period, the computed national unemployment rate rose from 27.1 per cent in Q2, 2020 to 33.3 per cent in Q4, 2020, while the underemployment rate decreased from 28.6 per cent to 22.8 per cent.

     

    “A combination of both the unemployment and underemployment rate for the reference period gave a figure of 56.1 per cent.

     

    “This means that 33.3 per cent of the labour force in Nigeria or 23,187,389 persons either did nothing or worked for less than 20 hours a week, making them unemployed by our definition in Nigeria.

     

    “This is an additional 1,422,772 persons from the number in that category in Q2, 2020.

     

    “Using the international definition of unemployment, the rate was computed to be 17.5 per cent.”

  • WTO DG, Okonjo-Iweala, Arrives Nigeria On Working Visit

    WTO DG, Okonjo-Iweala, Arrives Nigeria On Working Visit

     

    The new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Saturday, arrived in Nigeria on a one-week working visit.

     

    Okonjo-Iweala resumed at the Geneva-based WTO on March 1, 2021, breaking a 26-year record by becoming the first female and first African director-general of the global trade and dispute settlement body.

     

    Addressing newsmen shortly after her arrival via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday, the 66-year-old former Finance Minister said she is in the country to see how to better assist Nigerian entrepreneurs and improve the economy.

     

    She stressed the need for Nigeria to explore its share of trade in Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

     

    The former World Bank director also said she will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and a number of ministers in the coming days.

     

    The Nigerian development economist, known for her African print Ankara wears and peculiar headgear usually tilted at a convenient angle, said in a recent interview that she unabashedly “love being African and being Nigerian”.

     

     

  • N42bn Debt: Telcos To Shutdown Banks’ USSD Services From Monday

    N42bn Debt: Telcos To Shutdown Banks’ USSD Services From Monday

     

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON has said telcos will disconnect Financial Service Providers from Unstructured Supplementary Service Data services from March 15 until they pay their over N42bn debt.

     

    The association announced this in a statement titled ‘Withdrawal of USSD services to financial service providers due to huge indebtedness to telecom network operators’.

     

    The statement was signed by ALTON and Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, and Head of Operations, Gbolahan Awonuga.

     

    ALTON explained that the service withdrawal had become necessary due to the lack of agreement on a payment structure with the banks that did not involve the end-user being asked to pay.

     

    It noted that following the issuance of the USSD pricing determination by the Nigerian Communications Commission which resulted in a price review of USSD service by the telcos, the banks decided that they would no longer pay for USSD service delivered to their customers and requested the telcos to charge customers directly for use of the USSD channel.

     

    The telcos complained that the banks, however, provided no assurances that such service fees charged to customers’ bank accounts for access to bank services through the USSD channel would be discontinued post implementation of end-user billing by the telcos.

     

    The statement said, “It has been more than eight months since the NCC issued an updated pricing methodology for USSD services for financial transactions in Nigeria.

     

    “The methodology explicitly restricts Mobile Network Operators from charging the end user for the services and mandates the banking sector to enter into negotiations to settle outstanding obligations and agree individual pricing mechanisms to be applied going forwards

     

    “During this time, MNOs have continued to provide access to USSD infrastructure and our members have continued to pay all bank charges and fees to access the banking industries assets and customers, despite the fact that obligations due from banks to telecoms companies for USSD services has reached over N42bn.”

     

    The telecom operators said this was in consideration of millions of Nigerians who had become more reliant on accessing financial services through the USSD infrastructure due to COVID movement restrictions.

     

    They noted that due to the inability of the banks to agree on a payment structure, the government had been forced to intervene to ensure a sustainable cost-sharing solution was agreed that did not disadvantage the consumer in the long-term.

     

    The association said the removal of the service fees by the FSPs would have meant that if bank customers were charged only the USSD costs communicated by telcos per USSD session, bank customers would be paying far less than what they were currently being charged by the FSPs, which in some instances were as high as N50.

     

    They added that both the banks and telcos would be applauded for collaborating towards the financial inclusion objectives of the Federal Government.

     

    ALTON said, “We deeply regret that we have reached a point where the withdrawal of these services has become unavoidable. However, we remain committed to working closely with the relevant ministries and regulators to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

     

    “To minimise the disruption to customers, and with the concurrence of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the huge debt to network operators; MNOs will disconnect debtor FSPs from USSD services until the huge debt is paid.

     

    “Therefore, our members are initiating a phased process of withdrawal of USSD services, starting with the most significant debtors within the FSPs effective Monday March 15, 2021.”

     

    They encouraged subscribers to explore alternative channels with their banks.

  • Banks Owe Telcos N42bn For USSD Services, Says NCC

    Banks Owe Telcos N42bn For USSD Services, Says NCC

     

    Deposit Money Banks owe telecommunications companies N42bn for services provided by the mobile network operators through the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, the Nigerian Communications Commission has announced.

     

    Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, announced this during his lecture at the virtual 2021 edition of the Bullion Lecture.

     

    He explained that the indebtedness of the banks to mobile network operators had been an issue over time, but stressed that the NCC was working hard to address the concern.

     

    Danbatta said, “The issue of the USSD has become an issue between the telcos and the banks. The telecommunication companies provide the infrastructure which the banks leverage on to provide banking services of all kinds.

     

    “Therefore it is expected that for this service someone should pay. No service is free. The investment in infrastructure that is driving the USSD service is a huge investment that the telcos made.”

     

    The NCC boss added, “It is expected that they (telcos) will recoup their investments in order to continue and to expand the service. About N42bn that is owed the telcos has not been paid by the banks for the provision of this service.”

     

    Danbatta said the telecommunications firms could not withdraw their services to the banks because such action would not go down well with the Federal Government.

     

    He said, “The telecommunications companies cannot unilaterally withdraw this service because it will be seen as a subversive act, undermining the digital inclusion strategy of the present government.

     

    “And no government will sit back and watch while services that empower citizens are being tampered with or withdrawn. No government will standby and watch this to happen.”

     

    To address the situation, Danbatta said the NCC would soon engage the DMBs and ensure that the matter was resolved.

     

    “So in the next couple of days, we are poised to engage the banks and ensure we reach an amicable resolution where the first item on the agenda that will feature is the payment of this N42bn accumulated debts to the telecommunications companies.

     

    The NCC boss further stated that it was important for the country to meet the critical requirements needed in order to succeed in its drive towards digital inclusion in Nigeria.

     

    He said digital financial services were offered through the use of a mobile phone, which many residents in rural areas could not afford.

     

    “They (rural residents) need phones that are affordable and therefore we must direct our resource in a manner that will bring affordable handsets to the rural population,” Danbatta stated.

  • FG Enters Agreement With Benin Republic To End Rice Importation

    FG Enters Agreement With Benin Republic To End Rice Importation

     

    The federal government and the Republic of Benin have entered an agreement to end the importation of rice across West African countries.

     

    This agreement was announced at the end of a meeting between a delegation from Benin, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and Ibrahim Gambari, the chief of staff to the president, in Abuja on Tuesday.

     

    The meeting was to solidify the agreements and tap from Nigeria’s experience in reviving rice production.

     

    Representatives of RIFAN recently visited Cotonou, Benin capital, to sign a memorandum of understanding on how the association will help the country boost its local rice production.

     

    The delegation was received by President Patrice Talon in his residential house in Cotonou along with his minister of agriculture and foreign affairs.

     

    Addressing state house correspondents after the meeting, Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, explained that the meeting was to advance ongoing talks between the two countries on how to replicate Nigeria’s rice farming programme in the Benin Republic.

     

    “Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria met with the chief of staff to the president to progress the discussion which has been going on between them and the Benin Republic for the two countries to replicate the success of Nigeria’s rice farming programme in Benin, so that we can stop rice importation in West Africa in shortest possible time,” Bagudu said.

     

    “This is a partnership within the framework of ECOWAS agreement and the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and our brotherly relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Patrice Talon who have the vision that we can be greater together.”

     

    Speaking on what Nigeria intends to offer the Francophone country, Aminu Goronyo, national president of RIFAN, said: “Of course, they are our sister country, we are one and the same people and I think their president is ready to accept what we have used to achieve this success which is the government’s will because our success is related with the political will that this government has”.

     

    “And that is exactly what they want to learn so that they will use the same approach to attain the successes they are seeing to come to us to learn more.”

     

    During the delegation visit in Cotonou, Talon had said the closure of Nigerian borders served as an eye-opener and as such, the country was ready to work with Nigeria to stop the smuggling of rice.

     

    The land borders were closed in August 2019 to curb the smuggling of hard drugs and arms and agricultural products from neighbouring West African countries.

     

    TheCable’s analysis of the data provided by the Thai Rice Exporters Association showed the  rice exports to neighbouring West African countries increased after the Central Bank of Nigeria announced that it would no longer provide forex for rice importation.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that the borders be reopened on December 16, 2020.

  • Lagos Danfo Drivers Suspend Operation Over Ticket Sale

    Lagos Danfo Drivers Suspend Operation Over Ticket Sale

    Hundreds of commuters were stranded on Monday as commercial drivers suspended operation in protest against alleged extortion by union officials on the Badagry Expressway in Lagos State.

     

    The protesters, who displayed placards with different inscriptions, lamented that the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria had made commercial transportation burdensome, adding that drivers and conductors usually face inhumane treatment from union officials under the guise of collecting money for daily tickets.

     

    PUNCH Metro gathered that trouble started between the commercial drivers and RTEAN last Wednesday when its members compelled the drivers operating between Badagry and Mile 2 to pay N800 for a new ticket.

     

    A transporter, Isaac Olalekan, said the commercial drivers suspended operation last Thursday because of the new ticket, adding that RTEAN compelled the drivers to pay N800 for the ticket at every bus stop.

     

    He stated, “We started protesting around 7.15am from Agbara to Iyana Ira bus stop that we don’t want the ticket, others protested in other areas simply because union members are many on the road and are disturbing us from Badagry to Mile 2. They suddenly brought the ticket and started compelling us to pay N800. If RTEAN members collect money from transporters today, the NURTW members will work tomorrow.

     

    “But RTEAN claimed that the new ticket was obtained from the Lagos State Government. How will they be compelling us to pay N800 for a ticket at every junction? We asked why we were being asked to pay for the same ticket multiple times and they said it was from the government, but when we asked our colleagues at Iyana Ipaja, they said there was no such ticket there.

     

    “We suspended operation on Thursday; no commercial vehicle is operating on the Badagry Expressway and most commuters convey themselves to their destinations through the use of personal vehicles or motorcycles. A lot of commuters are stranded.”

     

    Another commercial driver, Ahmed Kolawole, said transport business in the area was no longer profitable, adding that union members had been extorting them with the ticket sales.

     

    A commuter, Olaoluwa Hakeem, said, “All the motorcycles plying the route are demanding N1,500 from here to Mile 2. It is between N150 and N200 if commercial buses are available. I have been here for over three hours and I am thinking of returning home.”

    Stranded commuters on Badagry Express way

    The Zonal Chairman, RTEAN, Igboelerin, Abdulateef Ajibola, explained, “This ticket is not a union ticket; it is a state government ticket from the Ministry of Transportation. We used to pay for the local government ticket, but the state government invited us to a meeting and informed us that the local government ticket has been suspended and that the state would be issuing the ticket to the union.

     

    “It is the government that has the power and not the transport unions, so we complied with the government’s directive. But we told them that N800 for the ticket was much; even the union ticket is N200 per day, but the government never listened to us and we have to comply since the government is the one issuing us permits for our parks.”

     

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Toyin Fayinka, said, “The Lagos State Government is aware of the N800 ticket. Before we rolled out the ticket, wider consultation was done and we held more than 10 meetings with the heads of the NURTW and RTEAN, and equally met with the local government chairmen before we agreed.

     

    “Out of this N800, the local government will have its share, the state government will have its share, the driver will have his share, the park and its environment will also have its share. If you are a transporter and you are to drive your vehicle from Ikorodu and a Lagos State Government ticket is issued to you for N800, if you take off from Ikorodu and pick passengers at Ketu, and you also pick passengers on Lagos Island, you do same when you get to Epe, nobody will give you another ticket. It is N800 per vehicle per day.”

     

    When asked the purpose the N800 ticket serves, Fayinka said, “Before now, a driver will just stop at a park and they will collect money from him without being issued any receipt or tax clearance. But we have agreed with the unions that the names, telephone numbers and pictures of the drivers paying this N800 must be documented.

     

    “As agreed, at the end of the year, the Lagos Internal Revenue Service will now give the drivers certificate of tax clearance as they will have deducted an amount on a daily basis from the N800 the drivers are paying.”