MTN Nigeria Suspends Airtime Lending Over FCCPC Regulations

MTN Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data lending services, known as ExtraTime, in response to new regulations released by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). This decision was disclosed in a corporate filing to the Nigerian Exchange on Thursday.

The FCCPC's new digital lending regulations, which will be implemented in 2025, introduce a compliance licensing framework for companies offering digital non-traditional consumer credit services in Nigeria. MTN noted that while the ExtraTime service allows eligible subscribers to borrow airtime and data, the suspension will not significantly impact earnings.

The company will continue to provide access to digital channels for purchasing airtime and data services. MTN is monitoring customer behavior and usage trends and will provide further details on the impact of this suspension in its first quarter 2026 results.

The FCCPC has set a deadline of April 2026 for full compliance with the new regulations, with penalties for non-compliance.