The Reason MTN Nigeria Suspended Its Airtime and Data Borrowing Services

MTN Nigeria, one of the country’s leading telecommunications companies, has temporarily suspended its airtime and data borrowing services. 

The company explained that the suspension is due to new regulatory requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Uto Ukpanah, MTN Nigeria’s company secretary, confirmed the decision on Thursday at the Nigerian Exchange Limited. According to Ukpanah, the suspension follows the implementation of the FCCPC’s new regulations under the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025.

What Caused the Suspension?

MTN Nigeria stated that the suspension is a direct result of the new compliance framework introduced by the FCCPC. The new regulations focus on consumer credit services, particularly digital or non-traditional lending, and require entities offering such services to comply with stricter guidelines and licensing requirements.

These changes are part of the broader Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025, which the FCCPC rolled out last year.

Under these regulations, all digital lenders, including telecom operators such as MTN, are required to register with the commission, thereby bringing them under a more stringent regulatory environment.

MTN’s Assurance to Customers

Despite the suspension of airtime and data borrowing, MTN Nigeria assured its customers that alternative digital channels for purchasing airtime and data would remain available.

The company emphasised that the temporary suspension would not significantly impact its revenue mix, as these services form only a small part of the company’s overall operations.

Regulatory Changes in Nigerian Telecoms

The FCCPC’s decision builds on the regulatory framework it introduced in 2022, which aimed to establish guidelines for digital lending. 

The new regulations, finalised in 2025, now require all digital lending services, including airtime credit services, to operate within a more controlled environment.