Last Updated on July 30, 2017 by Larious

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has rolled out a policy that mandates all network providers in Nigeria to provide a USSD code that subscribers can use to opt out of any category of unwanted text messages, and one that can be used to totally shut down unwanted messages from all categories.

The following are the various methods that can be used to opt out of receiving unsolicited text messages on your mobile phone for MTN, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat networks which already started from July 1, 2016.

How To Block Unwanted Text Messages From MTN, Airtel, Glo And Etisalat

MTN

The Do-Not-Disturb service allows MTN customers to opt out of receiving promotional messages for 3rd Party services (Bulk SMS, VAS promos, etc.)

The service will feature the following:

•  Fully Blocked mode allowing customers to Opt Out totally from receiving promotional messages via SMS and IVR.

• Partially Blocked mode allowing customers to filter service categories for promotional messages they wish to receive. Any category not selected is blocked.

How much does DND cost?

The service is free to customers.

How to activate DND

A customer will be able to perform the following DND activities via SMS

• View Status
• Activate full blocking
• Activate partial blocking
• Opt out of DND

Simply text HELP to the short code 2442 to find out more

• The following SMS keywords can be used to set your DND preference.

STOP: To stop all SMS and IVR messages
ALLOW: To receive all SMS and IVR messages
SMS 1: To receive Banking / Insurance/ Financial Products SMS
SMS 2: To receive Real Estate SMS and IVR messages
SMS 3: To receive Education SMS and IVR messages
SMS 4: To receive Health SMS and IVR messages
SMS 5: To receive Consumer goods & Automobiles SMS and IVR messages
SMS6: To receive Communication/Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT SMS and IVR messages
SMS 7: To receive Tourism & Leisure SMS and IVR messages
SMS 8: To receive Sport SMS and IVR messages
SMS 9: To receive Religion SMS and IVR messages
STATUS: To check your DND status

How to Deactivate DND

To opt out of the service, you will need to text the word “ALLOW” to the short code 2442. To opt-out is free.

How to check status

To check status, you will need to text the key word STATUS to 2442

 You wouldn’t receive any type of unsolicited messages on your phone again, send STOP to 2442 as SMS. You will be unsubscribed immediately.

AIRTEL

The Do-Not-Disturb service allows Airtel customers to opt out of receiving promotional messages for 3rd Party services (Bulk SMS, VAS promos, etc.)

The process of opting out from receiving promotional text messages on an Airtel line is quite easy and straight-forward. Follow the following procedures:

The service will feature the following:

• Fully Blocked mode allowing customers to Opt Out totally from receiving promotional messages via SMS
• Partially Blocked mode allowing customers to filter service categories for promotional messages they wish to receive. Any category not selected is blocked.

How much does DND cost?

The service is free to customers.

How to activate DND

A customer will be able to perform the following DND activities via SMS

• View Status
• Activate full blocking
• Activate partial blocking
• Opt out of DND

Simply SMS “HELP” to the short code 2442 to find out more

The following SMS keywords can be used to set your DND preference.

SMS 1:  To Stop Banking / Insurance/ Financial SMS
SMS 2:  To Stop Real Estate SMS
SMS 3:  To Stop Education SMS
SMS 4:  To Stop Health SMS
SMS 5:  To Stop Consumer goods & Automobiles SMS
SMS 6:  To Stop Communication/Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT SMS
SMS 7:  To Stop Tourism & Leisure SMS
SMS 8:  To Stop Sport SMS
SMS 9:  To Stop Religion SMS
SMS STOP:  To Stop all SMS
SMS OUT:  To receive all SMS

How to Deactivate DND

To opt out of the service, you will need to SMS the word “OUT” to the short code 2442. Once this is done you will now receive all promotional messages. To opt-out is free.

GLO

Glo subscribers interested in using the service to text ‘help’ to a short code ‘2442’ to receive a list of fields from which they want to receive or block unsolicited messages. The statement said that subscribers interested in receiving information on Banking, Insurance and Financial products can send 1 to 2442, while subscribers are required to send 2 to 2442 to receive information on Real Estate.

Those interested in having information related to Education only need to send 3 to the short code, 2442. Similarly, subscribers interested in receiving information on health issues  are advised to send 4 to 2442, while 5 should be sent to the same code for details on consumer goods and 6 for information on communications, broadcasting, entertainment and information technology.

Also for those wishing to get updates on tourism and leisure will have to send 7 to the short code, while clients desirous of reading about sports need to send 8 to the same short code 2442.  Similarly, any customer interested in religious matters should send 9 to the code.

ETISALAT

The Etisalat do not disturb (DND) service will allow our customers opt-out
of receiving unsolicited marketing
messages and calls.

Full Blacklist: This allows customers opt out of all third party marketing messages
Partial Blacklist: This allows customers opt out of specific third party service categories e.g. sports, religion, Entertainment etc.

• To fully blacklist your number from all third party marketing messages, SMS STOP to 2442.
• For partial blacklisting from some service categories, to 2442. The SMS codes and their respective service categories are:

The following SMS keywords can be used to set your DND preference.

Or sms “LIST” to 2442 to view the partial blacklist keywords.

Now you can free from those annoying sms from your various network providers. Between, I still get few unwanted SMS from MTN, AIRTEL, GLO AND ETISALAT even when I have fully stop all sms from them, But the number of unwanted sms has greatly reduced.