Customers of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited are experiencing disruptions in accessing the bank’s digital services, as the lender confirmed a temporary outage on its mobile and USSD platforms.
In a customer circular released on Thursday, the bank disclosed that the disruption has affected *FirstMobile, FirstOnline, and the 894# USSD service, leaving millions of account holders unable to perform routine transactions such as transfers, bill payments, and balance inquiries. The outage, which began earlier in the day, has sparked concern among users who rely heavily on digital channels for financial access.
FirstBank assured customers that its technical team is working around the clock to restore full functionality. “We are aware of the challenges currently being experienced on our digital channels and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. Our team is actively resolving the issue to ensure services are restored as soon as possible,” the bank said.
The disruption comes at a time when Nigeria’s banking sector is experiencing increased reliance on electronic transactions. According to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), mobile transfers surged to ₦78 trillion in 2024, reflecting the growing dependence on mobile and USSD channels for daily banking. Industry watchers warn that such outages not only inconvenience customers but also raise questions about the resilience of digital banking infrastructure in Africa’s largest economy.
While FirstBank has not disclosed the root cause of the outage, the bank has advised customers to remain patient, assuring them of prompt updates once services are fully restored.
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