Effective Thursday, May 1, 2025, several Nigerian banks will increase their SMS transaction alert fees from ₦4 to ₦6 per message—a 50% hike. This change follows the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of a 50% increase in telecom service tariffs, including SMS charges, due to rising operational costs faced by telecom operators.
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has communicated this adjustment to its customers, citing the increased telecom rates as the reason for the fee hike. Similarly, Ecobank Nigeria announced an increase in its SMS notification charges from ₦5 to ₦6 per message, effective May 1, 2025.
Customers who prefer to avoid these charges can opt out of SMS alerts by updating their preferences through their respective banks’ official channels. Alternatives such as email alerts are often available at no additional cost.
This development comes amid broader economic challenges, including a national inflation rate of 24.23% as of March 2025, impacting both consumers and service providers.
