Why MTN Nigeria suspended airtime, data borrowing services

Nigeria’s telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, has attributed the suspension of its airtime and data borrowing services to new regulatory requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC.
The company’s secretary, Uto Ukpanah, disclosed this on Thursday at the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

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According to the telecom firm, the decision to pause the services is largely due to the implementation of the FCCPC’s regulations under the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025.

“This relates to the implementation of processes under the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, which introduced a new compliance and licensing framework for entities providing digital or non-traditional consumer credit services,” the company stated.

MTN, however, assured customers that alternative digital channels for purchasing airtime and data remain available despite the temporary suspension.

“Given the scale within the revenue mix, we do not expect the temporary suspension to have a material impact,” the company added.

Recall that the FCCPC, building on its limited interim regulatory/registration framework and guidelines for digital lending introduced in 2022, rolled out the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 last year.

Under the new guidelines, all digital lenders operating in Nigeria are required to register with the commission. This requirement also covers airtime credit services, effectively bringing telecom operators like MTN under a stricter regulatory framework.