MTN Nigeria has halted its airtime and data loan service, Xtratime, following new regulatory requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The telecom operator disclosed this in a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited, explaining that the decision was taken to comply with the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
The service, which allows subscribers to access airtime and data on credit and repay upon subsequent recharge, now falls under the expanded regulatory framework governing digital lending activities in the country.
According to the company, the suspension is temporary and aimed at meeting new licensing and compliance obligations introduced by the updated rules.
MTN assured customers that alternative channels for purchasing airtime and data remain available, adding that the suspension is not expected to significantly affect its financial performance.
The company further stated that it is monitoring user patterns and will provide additional updates in its first-quarter 2026 financial report.
The FCCPC’s revised framework extends oversight to telecom operators and other providers of short-term digital credit services, requiring them to obtain proper approvals before continuing such offerings.
Although a digital lending regulatory structure was first introduced in 2022, the 2025 update strengthens compliance requirements and sets a transitional deadline for full registration by April 2026.
The move reflects growing regulatory attention to consumer protection, debt management, and practices within Nigeria’s expanding digital credit ecosystem.
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