The largest telecommunications operator in Nigeria, MTN, has temporarily suspended its airtime and data lending services known as “Extratime”, citing the new regulation released by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as the reason.
The company disclosed this in a corporate disclosure to the NGX released on Thursday.
According to the company, the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, introduced a fresh compliance and licensing framework for companies offering digital or non-traditional consumer credit services in Nigeria.
What the company is saying
In the disclosure signed by its Company Secretary, Uto Ukpanah, MTN noted Xtratime allows eligible subscribers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge, making it one of the widely used value-added services among prepaid users.
- “MTN Nigeria Communications PLC (MTN Nigeria or the Company) hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public that the Company has temporarily suspended its airtime and data credit advance service (“Xtratime”).
- “This relates to the implementation of processes under the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, which introduced a new compliance and licensing framework for entities providing digital or non-traditional consumer credit services,” the company stated.
MTN said customers will continue to have access to other digital channels for purchasing airtime and data while the service remains suspended.
The company also assured investors that the temporary halt is not expected to significantly affect earnings.
- “Given the scale within the revenue mix, we do not expect the temporary suspension to have a material impact,” the company stated.
MTN added that it is monitoring customer behaviour and usage trends and will provide further details on any measurable impact in its first quarter 2026 results.
Get up to speed
Building on its Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending, 2022, the FCCPC last year introduced the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
Under the guidelines, all digital lenders in the country are expected to register with the FCCPC. This also includes airtime or dental lenders, which brings MTN and other telecom operators offering the services under a new set of regulations.
Operators provisionally designated as eligible under transitional arrangements were recently given a new deadline of April 2026 to complete their registration under the DEON Regulations.
- “This window is provided to enable affected operators to take steps towards compliance. Operators that choose not to regularise their status within this period may be subject to further regulatory measures, as provided under the law,” FCCPC CEO, Mr. Tunji Mr. Bello had said.
What you should know
The FCCPC had earlier fixed October 31, 2025, as the deadline for all digital lenders in the country to get registered or face a fine of N100 million.
Nairametrics reported that the race to beat the deadline had led to a surge in the number of registered digital lenders in the country, with the number jumping to 492 in October.
However, the Commission later announced the extension of the deadline to January 5, 2026, to allow full compliance.
Government trying to regulate borrowing/credits without regulating their own….
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