Business
USSD service disruption: MTN to use Flutterwave, Opay, Kuda, other payment channels
MTN is exploring other electronic payment platforms for its customers to recharge their phones.
It is no longer news that customers of telecom giant, MTN have over the last few days, experienced disruptions in USSD and some other services offered jointly by MTN and commercial banks owing to disagreements between the two parties over commission and service charges.
As a result of the disconnection, MTN is exploring other electronic payment platforms for its customers to recharge their phones.
According to a report from Punch, these alternative channels include payment solutions platforms such as Flutterwave, Jumia Pay, OPay, Kuda, Carbon and BillsnPay.
READ: How fintech companies are wrestling with commercial banks in Nigeria
The mobile network operator, in a statement on Saturday, April 3, 2021, issued by its Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, also said customers could recharge airtime by dialling *904# and *606#.
What MTN is saying
MTN, in its statement, 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.
Below is the list and links to access the various alternative platforms:
- MTN On Demand is on *904# and also via https://mtnondemand.flutterwave.com;
- Barter By Flutterwave (app);
- Jumia Pay (app);
- OPay (app);
- MTN Xtratime airtime loans (*606#);
- Carbon (app);
- Kuda (app);
- BillsnPay (app and web);
- myMTN Web
- Momo agent *223#
The Apps can be downloaded from the Playstore and the Appstore.”
READ: Nigerian banks Non-Performing Loans ratio jump to 6.3%
In case you missed it
- Nairametrics had earlier reported that over 77 million MTN subscribers were disconnected from all banking channels by the commercial banks, due to disagreements over banks’ commission which was reduced by the mobile network operator from an average of 3.5% to 2.5%.
- The commercial banks, in an earlier written communication with MTN, were reported to have asked for a reversal to the old commission or they would block MTN airtime recharge services in all their channels.
- All the commercial banks, except Zenith Bank which was connected directly to MTN, thereafter barred MTN from their banking channels, leaving many MTN subscribers stranded and frustrated as they were unable to recharge airtime through USSD and bank apps amid the Easter celebrations.
- However, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had waded into the matter and promised a resolution of the issues.
Business
Lagos State seeks investors in aquatic and livestock agriculture value chain
The Commissioner revealed that the scheme was in line with the State’s five-year strategic agriculture roadmap.
The Lagos State Government announced it is seeking private sector collaboration for Agriculture sector value chain development in livestock feed mills, fisheries and red meat.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
The Commissioner revealed that the scheme was in line with the State’s five-year strategic agriculture roadmap, as the State identified the 3 main sectors for value chain disruption.
READ: Lagos goes tough on illegal conversion of land use, enforcement begins in Ikeja GRA, Lekki, others
She also added that investment in the sectors would also develop jobs for the industry and boost the State’s GDP growth, through Private Sector collaboration as Lagos residents consume over N5 trillion worth of food annually.
“The objective is to stimulate and encourage more public-private partnerships in the three value chains,” she said.
“When you consider this pool of transactions happening in Lagos, it shows that we are the market. For instance, we demand over 400,000 metric tons of fish on an annual basis.
“But our fishermen and our aquaculture farmers are only able to produce just about 174,000 metric tons with deficit of 200,000 metric tons,” she added.
READ: CBN invests over N120 billion on 320,000 farmers across CTG within four years
She also disclosed that the state has 9,000 artisanal fishermen, and bringing more youths into the space will increase the level of fish and seafood being harnessed from our water bodies. Looking at the transactional value on an annual basis, the fisheries sector is worth well over N120billion according to her.
In case you missed it: Nigeria exported agricultural products worth N321.5 billion in 2020, representing a 19.16% increase when compared to N269.8 billion recorded in 2019 and a 6.27% increase compared to N302.28 billion recorded in 2018.
Business
#DigitalSkillsTraining: FG announces conclusion of selection process
Only successful applicants that are contacted by the Ministry are to report at the training venue.
