TECH DIGEST – MTN customers in Nigeria now have alternative electronic payment platforms to recharge their phones as the mobile network operator on Saturday announced that customers can recharge airtime through payment solutions platforms such as Flutterwave, Jumia Pay, OPay, Kuda, Carbon and BillsnPay.

MTN in a statement on Saturday by its Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, also said customers could recharge airtime by dialing *904# and *606#.

This is coming barely 24 hours after commercial banks on Friday disconnected MTN customers from banking channels including the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and banking apps, leaving millions of MTN subscribers frustrated as they were unable to recharge airtime via USSD amid the Easter celebrations.

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.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the telco reduced the banks’ commission from an average of 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent which predicated the actions of the banks.

The banks had written MTN to revert to the old commission, otherwise, they would block MTN airtime in all their channels.

The banks, except Zenith Bank which was connected directly to MTN, subsequently blocked MTN from their banking channels, leaving customers stranded as they were unable to recharge virtually.

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 on Saturday, 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.”

Speaking exclusively with Sunday PUNCH, a source in the industry said the most important factor is that MTN was able to quickly come up with alternatives through fintech companies.

“There are so many possibilities through fintech. It is about being responsive and flexible to alternatives for customers to enjoy MTN services as they have been enjoying before the disconnection by the banks. It is about being solution-focused,” the source said.

Asked whether MTN might have used the fintech platforms as alternatives before the disconnection, the source, who craved anonymity, said the development was totally new and spontaneous.

The source could not, however, give an update on the discussion the minister started with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission to broker peace between the banks and MTN.

But the source stressed that even after the issue becomes resolved, it would be wise for MTN not to put its eggs in a basket. The source said it would be wise for MTN not to abandon the fintech companies because “if it happens today, who says it will not happen tomorrow?”

The post USSD War: MTN Snubs Banks, Links 77 Million Subscribers To Fintech Platforms appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – Airtel Nigeria has commenced the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise in its retail outlets across the country following the approval from the Federal Government granting telcos verification and enrolment license to enrol Nigerians.

Airtel said in a statement that select retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja were operational to register Nigerians for NIN, adding that work was currently ongoing to expand its NIN footprints to cover more areas and states.

It added that residents of Abuja could now visit Transcorp Hilton situated in Maitama or Airtel showrooms at Carpet Plaza and Kano Crescent in Wuse 2, while those in Lagos could go to Airtel Express Point, Oyin Jolayemi, Victoria Island and Airtel showroom in Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere.

“Lagos residents can also visit the Airtel showroom in Tejuosho, Yaba; Airtel showroom in Isheri Road, Ogba and the Airtel showroom in Oba Akran, Ikeja to register for the NIN exercise,” it said.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, said: “Airtel is always seeking opportunities to cooperate and partner with the Nigerian government on initiatives that will make life easier and better for Nigerians.’’

Similarly, MTN said it has commenced enrollment for National Identification Number (NIN) at some its centres in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

MTN’s Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, who said the telco had secured Nigerian Identity Management Commission licence for NIN enrollment, noted that MTN had invested in acquiring devices aligned with NIMC standard.
He also assured that the number of locations would increase with time.

“We have commenced enrollment for NIN at a limited number of locations.

“This number will rise as certification and other dependencies on the Nigerian Identity Management Commission for roll-out of such locations are addressed.’’

Meanwhile, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said in a matter of weeks every operator would start NIN enrollment.

He noted that operators had commenced preparatory arrangements in the regard of procurement, licensing and deployment.

The post Airtel, MTN, Others Begin NIN Registration in Retail Outlets across Nigeria appeared first on Tech Digest News.