MTN Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data borrowing service, Xtratime, following new regulatory requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The telecom operator disclosed this in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), stating that the decision was taken to ensure compliance with the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
Xtratime, a popular service among prepaid subscribers, allows customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.
In the disclosure signed by the company secretary, Uto Ukpanah, MTN confirmed the suspension, noting that the service now falls under the scope of the commission’s expanded regulatory framework.
“MTN Nigeria Communications Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public that the company has temporarily suspended its airtime and data credit advance service (‘Xtratime’),” the statement said.
The company explained that the new regulations introduce stricter compliance procedures and licensing requirements for entities providing digital or non-traditional consumer credit services.
According to MTN, the suspension is part of efforts to implement the required processes under the new regulatory regime.
Despite the development, the company assured subscribers that other channels for purchasing airtime and data remain fully operational.
MTN also downplayed the potential financial impact of the suspension, noting that the service does not constitute a significant portion of its revenue.
“Given the scale within the revenue mix, we do not expect the temporary suspension to have a material impact,” the company said, adding that it would continue to monitor customer behaviour and provide updates in its first-quarter 2026 results.
The FCCPC’s 2025 regulations have broadened oversight of Nigeria’s digital lending ecosystem, bringing telecom operators and other providers of short-term credit services under stricter regulatory scrutiny.
Under the framework, companies offering such services are required to register and obtain regulatory approval before continuing operations.
The commission had earlier introduced a digital lending framework in 2022, which was expanded in 2025 in response to growing concerns over consumer debt, data privacy and lending practices.
