NIGERIA – MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecommunications operator, has temporarily suspended its widely used airtime and data credit advance service, known as Xtratime, to comply with new digital lending regulations introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The company made the announcement in a corporate filing submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The statement, signed by Company Secretary Uto Ukpanah, confirmed that the suspension relates to the implementation of compliance processes under the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
Xtratime allows eligible prepaid subscribers to borrow airtime or data (often referred to as XtraByte for data bundles), with automatic repayment upon their next recharge. The service has long served as a convenient lifeline for millions of customers facing temporary shortfalls in credit.
“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 filing stated. “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 FCCPC’s 2025 regulations aim to strengthen consumer protection in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital lending sector by imposing stricter licensing, registration, and operational standards. Telecom operators offering credit services now fall explicitly within the regulator’s oversight.
Operators under transitional arrangements were given until April 2026 to complete full registration and align their processes. Earlier deadlines, including January 5, 2026, had been extended amid a surge in registration applications.
MTN Nigeria assured customers that alternative channels for purchasing airtime and data — including its mobile app, website, USSD codes, and authorised vendors — remain fully operational during the suspension period.
The company also downplayed any potential financial impact, stating that the temporary pause is not expected to have a material effect on its overall earnings. It added that it will closely monitor customer behaviour and provide updates on any measurable effects in its first-quarter 2026 financial results.
A Federal High Court in Lagos recently granted an interim injunction restraining the FCCPC from enforcing certain aspects of the regulations pending the hearing of a substantive suit. However, several operators, including MTN, have proceeded with compliance measures in the interim.
FCCPC Chief Executive Tunji Bello has previously warned that failure to meet the stipulated deadlines could attract further regulatory sanctions.
The suspension, which reportedly took effect around April 12, 2026 (rendering the *303# USSD code inactive for borrowing), reflects broader efforts by Nigerian authorities to formalise the digital credit ecosystem and address past concerns over opaque practices and aggressive recovery methods.
MTN described the suspension as temporary and said it expects to resume the service once the necessary regulatory requirements are fully satisfied.
Customers are advised to check official MTN Nigeria channels or the NGX for further updates.
