Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has defended the N6.98 Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), fee charged on banking transactions, insisting that the cost reflects the service provided by network operators, regardless of whether the transaction is completed.

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, made the clarification during a radio programme, where he addressed growing consumer complaints over what many Nigerians have described as “unfair billing” and the alleged “scam” of data expiration.

Adebayo likened the role of telecommunications companies in USSD transactions to that of a transport service provider facilitating access to banks’ digital platforms.

He said: “The phone company is like a taxi taking you to the bank’s digital office. Even if the bank’s system is down when you get there, you still have to pay the taxi man.

“Every USSD request initiated by a subscriber utilises network resources, irrespective of the outcome of the transaction on the bank’s end.

“When customers make repeated attempts due to failed transactions, telecom operators still provide connectivity for each attempt, thereby incurring operational costs,” he explained.

On the lingering dispute between telecom operators and banks over failed USSD transactions, Adebayo disclosed, “that regulators, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are currently reviewing data to determine responsibility for transaction failures.

“Each time you dial a USSD code, the telco provides the access. If the bank does not complete the transaction, it does not negate the fact that the network has already been used,” he added.

The ALTON Chairman also addressed widespread dissatisfaction over data expiration, clarifying that data bundles are sold within defined validity periods and are not designed for indefinite use.

“You can’t carry it in perpetuity, but you have the benefit of extending it without losing unused portions by just resubscribing,” he said.

He explained that subscribers can retain unused data through rollover options, provided they renew their subscriptions before the expiration of the current bundle.

Adebayo further shed light on the concept of toll-free lines, noting that such services are not entirely free but are funded by the receiving organisation.

“There is nothing like free service. These are reverse charge lines where the business or government pays for the calls,” he explained, adding that economic realities have made many organisations reluctant to sustain such costs.

He noted that this has contributed to the limited availability of toll-free services in Nigeria.

While acknowledging consumer frustrations, Adebayo stressed the need for greater public understanding of how telecom services operate, particularly the cost implications of maintaining network infrastructure.

European Union (EU) has warned that Meta may be failing to effectively prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Meta

The warning followed an investigation conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which found that the company’s age-verification safeguards may be inadequate.

EU regulators said preliminary findings showed that children could easily bypass age restrictions by providing false birth dates during registration.

They also noted that tools for reporting underage users were difficult to locate and use, raising concerns about children’s exposure to inappropriate content and online risks.

EU Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said platform rules should go beyond written policies.

“Terms and conditions should not be mere written statements, but rather the basis for concrete action to protect users, including children,” Virkkunen said.

Under Meta’s policies, users must be at least 13 years old to create accounts on its platforms.

However, EU officials said the company’s enforcement mechanisms appeared insufficient and did not adequately address the risks posed to younger users.

If the findings are upheld, Meta could face penalties of up to six per cent of its global annual turnover under the Digital Services Act.

The company, however, rejected the allegations, saying it already operates systems designed to detect and remove underage accounts.

Meta added that it would continue to cooperate with EU regulators on the matter.

The investigation, launched in May 2024, forms part of the EU’s wider push to strengthen oversight of major technology firms and improve online safety for children.

Regulators are also reviewing broader platform design concerns, including features they describe as potentially addictive and harmful to users’ wellbeing.

The EU is considering additional measures, including the possibility of introducing a bloc-wide minimum age restriction for social media use, amid growing pressure for tighter child safety regulations online.

Nigeria has emerged as the sixth-largest hub globally by Solana developer share and the leading country in Africa, according to the first quarter 2026 impact report released by SuperteamNG, a Web3 ecosystem community.

The report disclosed that Nigerian developers now account for 67 per cent of all active Solana developers in Africa, underscoring the country’s growing influence in blockchain and decentralised finance innovation.

It added that more than 162,000 dollars was channelled directly into Nigeria’s economy during the first quarter through ecosystem grants, bounties, and related funding opportunities.

According to the report, Nigerian builders secured 65,779 dollars in ecosystem bounties and 88,500 dollars in grants from the Solana Foundation within the three-month period.

The ecosystem also recorded strong transaction growth, with locally built products supported by SuperteamNG posting significant processing volumes.

One of the products, Evolution, reportedly surpassed four million dollars in Total Value Processed (TVP), while NectarFi recorded over six million dollars in transaction volume during its beta phase.

Speaking on the development, Lead of Solana SuperteamNG, Harrison Obiefule, said the figures reflected Nigeria’s transition from being a consumer of global technology to becoming an active producer of digital innovation.

“Nigeria is no longer just a consumer of global technology; we are now a growing factory for it.

“Ranking first in Africa and sixth globally by Solana developer share, despite local economic challenges, shows our thesis is working,” Obiefule said.

He added that Solana was increasingly becoming the preferred infrastructure for Nigerian fintech companies in areas such as payments, savings, and international trade.

According to him, the Q1 performance signals Nigeria’s rising role in shaping the future of decentralised finance globally.

The report highlighted that 15 Nigerian products, including Busha, Raenest, and Jeroid, partnered with SuperteamNG during the quarter to launch Solana-based features such as stablecoin settlements and SOL-backed loans.

It also revealed that SuperteamNG expanded its footprint to 30 states across Nigeria, organising 186 events, including 76 physical and 110 virtual engagements, aimed at connecting traditional finance and decentralised finance communities.

The organisation said it had also launched a 16-week developer bootcamp and specialised guilds for writers and designers to strengthen Nigeria’s blockchain talent pipeline.

The report noted that the programmes were designed to position more Nigerian youths for global opportunities in the growing Web3 ecosystem.