Millions of eligible telecom subscribers have regained access to airtime lending services following the restoration of the platform by MTN Nigeria after weeks of disruption triggered by a regulatory dispute over digital consumer lending.
The restoration follows similar moves by Airtel Nigeria and Globacom after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC)suspended the enforcement of disputed provisions of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations pending the determination of a suit before the court.
The restoration effectively returns one of the country’s most widely used emergency telecom services, allowing subscribers to borrow airtime and data when they run out of credit.
Stakeholders say airtime lending has become an important support service for millions of Nigerians, particularly low-income earners, traders, artisans and small business owners who depend on uninterrupted mobile connectivity for communication, banking and commercial activities. With about 40 million users relying on airtime lending even as the ecosystem.is valued at a ₦300–₦400 billion market annually.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria had earlier warned that the disruption would affect millions of subscribers who rely on airtime advances for everyday communication.
According to ALTON Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, the episode demonstrated that airtime credit had evolved beyond a conventional telecommunications service.
“What this episode demonstrated is that airtime credit is not a financial product in the way regulators initially characterised it. It is economic infrastructure that approximately 40 million people use regularly, with the vast majority of them at the base of the economy.” Adebayo said.
He added that the disruption raised broader concerns about consumer welfare, investor confidence and regulatory certainty within
ALTON said the disruption posed risks to consumer welfare, investor confidence and regulatory certainty.
The Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which challenged aspects of the FCCPC regulations in court, said its legal action was aimed at protecting licensed Nigerian operators and millions of subscribers who depend on airtime and data advances.
According to the association, the service has become an important support mechanism for traders, artisans, small business owners and other Nigerians who have limited access to conventional credit.
However, for many subscribers, the restoration means they can once again access emergency airtime and data advances when they run out of credit.
An employee of a Lagos-based firm, Farouk Rabiu, said the suspension caught him by surprise.
“The first time I realised I could no longer borrow credit on Glo and MTN came as a big surprise,” he said.
“I was devastated because, after exhausting my data, I was hoping to borrow credit to access my bank account. Instead, it was a major disappointment,” Rabiu added.
While, he acknowledged that the charges associated with airtime borrowing could sometimes be high, Rabiu said the service remained indispensable.
“They do save you from some unnecessary embarrassment. I missed having that option,” he said.
However, WASPAN maintained that its intervention was driven by consumer protection concerns.
The commission classified airtime and data advances as a form of consumer lending under its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, arguing that stronger regulatory oversight was necessary to improve transparency and accountability in the digital credit market.
Following court orders, the commission suspended enforcement of the disputed provisions pending the determination of the substantive suit.
FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, noted that the commission decided in obedience to the rule of law while continuing to pursue its legal arguments before the court.
While the legal dispute continues, millions of subscribers can once again access airtime lending services that have become an important means of staying connected to banking services, businesses, family members and emergency communications.
