MTN Nigeria PLC stated that it has suspended airtime and data advance service, popularly known as Xtratime.
This, they stated, was due to the introduction of fresh regulatory requirements by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which highlights tightening oversight in the country’s digital lending space.
The telecommunications company made this known in a filing it submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday, explaining that the temporary suspension was necessary to ensure full compliance with the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
The Xtratime service, widely used by prepaid subscribers across Nigeria, permitted customers to borrow airtime or mobile data and repay on their next recharge, making it a convenient short-term solution for millions of users.
In the official memo signed by its Company Secretary, Barr. Uto Ukpanah, MTN clarified that the service falls squarely within the scope of the newly introduced regulations, which impose additional licensing requirements and compliance procedures on providers of digital credit services.
“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 company said.
It further explained that the decision is directly linked 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.”
Despite the suspension, MTN reassured subscribers that alternative channels for purchasing airtime and data are fully operational, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential telecom services.
The company also downplayed the potential financial implications, stressing that the suspension was not expected to significantly affect its overall earnings and performance.
“Given the scale within the revenue mix, we do not expect the temporary suspension to have material impact,” MTN said, adding that it is closely monitoring customer behaviour and usage trends.
The telecom operator further indicated that it would provide additional updates on the situation in its first quarter 2026 financial results, offering stakeholders more clarity on the evolving regulatory landscape.
The FCCPC’s 2025 regulations represent a significant expansion of regulatory oversight within Nigeria’s digital lending ecosystem, extending coverage to include telecom operators and other providers of short-term credit services.
The new development is expected to improve on earlier regulatory framework introduced by the commission in 2022, which has now been broadened with stricter compliance requirements and enforcement mechanisms in 2025.
