MTN Nigeria has temporarily suspended its popular airtime and data lending service, Xtratime, in response to new regulatory requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The telecom operator announced the decision in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday, explaining that the move is necessary to comply with the 2025 Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations.
Xtratime, which allows prepaid users to borrow airtime or data and repay upon their next recharge, now falls under the scope of the updated rules. As a result, MTN said it must complete additional compliance and licensing processes before the service can be restored.
In its statement, the company confirmed the temporary suspension of the credit service while it aligns with the new regulatory framework governing digital lending in Nigeria.
The filing, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, noted that the service will remain unavailable until all compliance obligations set by the FCCPC are fully met.
Despite the disruption, MTN assured customers that other airtime and data purchase channels remain fully functional. The company also stated that the suspension is unlikely to have a significant impact on its overall revenue.
MTN added that it will continue to monitor customer usage patterns and provide further updates in its first-quarter 2026 financial results.
The development highlights the widening reach of Nigeria’s consumer lending regulations, which now cover telecom operators and other providers of short-term digital credit services. The FCCPC had initially introduced guidelines in 2022 but expanded them in 2025 to strengthen oversight across the sector.
Under the revised rules, all providers of non-traditional credit services—including airtime and data advances—must obtain proper licensing, with a compliance deadline set for April 2026.
The new framework is designed to improve transparency, protect consumers, and enhance data governance in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital lending space, where services like Xtratime have become essential for many prepaid users, particularly those relying on short-term credit to stay connected.
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