MTN Nigeria has put a hold on its airtime and data advance service called Xtratime because of new rules set by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
The telecom company announced this decision in a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday, explaining that the pause was necessary to follow the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
This service lets prepaid users borrow airtime or data and pay it back with their next recharge.
In the statement signed by its company secretary, Uto Ukpanah, MTN noted that Xtratime is included in the new regulations, which require extra licensing and compliance for digital credit service providers.
“MTN Nigeria Communications PLC informs the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public that it has temporarily suspended its airtime and data credit advance service (‘Xtratime’),” said the company.
They also mentioned that this suspension is connected to the implementation of processes under the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, which established a new framework for compliance and licensing for those offering digital or non-traditional consumer credit services.
Even though there is a suspension, MTN stated that customers can still buy airtime and data through other channels. The company emphasized that this decision is not likely to significantly impact their earnings.
“Considering the size of our revenue mix, we do not anticipate the temporary suspension will have a major effect,” the company noted.
They also mentioned that they are keeping an eye on how customers behave and use their services and will share updates in their first quarter results for 2026.
The FCCPC’s new regulations in 2025 broaden the oversight of digital lending to include telecom companies and other short-term credit service providers.
According to these rules, businesses offering airtime and data loans must register and get approval to keep operating.
Previously, in 2022, the commission had introduced a set of rules for digital lending but expanded them with stricter guidelines in 2025.
There are deadlines for companies to comply, with full registration due by April 2026.
These stricter rules come in response to increasing worries about consumer debt, data privacy, and lending practices within Nigeria’s growing digital credit market.
