MTN Nigeria announced fintech alternative channels for its customers to buy airtime for their mobile devices after commercial banks disallowed MTN subscribers to use their channels. All banks in Nigeria, except Zenith Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank, have taken MTN off their platform. Mobil network operator, MTN, has partnered some electronic payment platforms in its bid to be responsive to the needs of its teeming customers.
MTN said with the alternative electronic payment platforms such as Flutterwave, Jumia Pay, OPay, Kuda, Carbon and BillsnPay, its customers can recharge airtime and also enjoy most of its flexible services.
The mobile network operator disclosed this in a statement issued by its Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, today.
The statement noted that customers could recharge airtime by dialing *904# and *606#.
The statement came barely 24 hours after commercial banks disconnected MTN customers from banking channels including the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and banking apps.
The move left millions of 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 said 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 yesterday, 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.”
MTN, with about 77 million subscribers, making up about 45 per cent of the total telecommunication market share in Nigeria, is arguably the largest telecommunication operator in the country.
