MTN Nigeria is set to restore its Xtratime airtime lending service following the suspension of enforcement of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC. The development comes after Airtel and Globacom had earlier resumed similar services that were halted in April over regulatory concerns.
The regulations had classified airtime and data lending as consumer credit facilities, requiring telecom operators and their partners to obtain licences and comply with fresh conditions. The directive forced MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile to suspend airtime lending services, a move that affected an estimated 40 million subscribers who rely on borrowed airtime and data for communication, business transactions and emergencies across the country.
Confirming the decision to resume operations, a source within the company said the suspension of enforcement by the FCCPC paved the way for the reinstatement of the service. MTN had earlier maintained that it would only restore Xtratime if the regulations were set aside by the court or if regulators issued a clear directive permitting resumption. The situation was further complicated by a court order issued on April 15, 2026, following a suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria, WASPAN.
MTN said the temporary suspension had limited impact on customer usage patterns, with Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, explaining during an earnings call that subscribers quickly adapted by switching to self funded usage and other alternatives. The company disclosed that Xtratime contributes about three per cent of total revenue, while airtime and data tied to the platform account for nearly 20 per cent of overall airtime distribution. Despite the disruption, MTN projected continued revenue growth from ₦5.2 trillion recorded in 2025 to an estimated ₦6.24 trillion in 2026.