Airtel Nigeria Halts Airtime and Data Loan Services

Airtel Nigeria announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data loan services, becoming the second major telecom operator in the country to halt these offerings following new regulatory requirements. The announcement was made on a Friday by Femi Adesina, the Director of Corporate Communications.

The suspension affects services that previously allowed eligible prepaid subscribers to borrow airtime and data until their next recharge. MTN Nigeria had also communicated a similar suspension of its XtraTime service, citing compliance with the new digital lending regulations.

These regulations, introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), require telecom operators to register and comply with a comprehensive licensing framework for digital consumer credit services by an extended deadline of January 5, 2026. Failure to comply could attract regulatory sanctions, including a penalty of N100 million.

Despite the suspension, Airtel Nigeria assured customers that they would continue to have uninterrupted access to airtime and data purchases through existing channels.