MTN Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data advance service, Xtratime, following new regulatory requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The telecom giant disclosed this in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday, stating that the move is necessary to comply with the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
Xtratime, a popular service among prepaid subscribers, allows users to borrow airtime or data and repay upon their next recharge. However, under the new regulatory framework, such services are now classified as digital credit offerings and are subject to stricter licensing and compliance requirements.
In the disclosure signed by its Company Secretary, Uto Ukpanah, MTN confirmed the suspension.
“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 statement read.
The company explained that the decision was 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 development, MTN assured customers that alternative channels for purchasing airtime and data remain fully operational and unaffected.
The company also downplayed the financial implications of the suspension, noting that Xtratime contributes a relatively small portion to its overall revenue.
“Given the scale within the revenue mix, we do not expect the temporary suspension to have a material impact,” MTN stated, adding that it would continue to monitor customer usage patterns and provide further updates in its first quarter 2026 financial results.
The FCCPC’s updated 2025 regulations expand oversight of digital lending to include telecom operators and other providers of short-term credit services. Under the framework, companies offering such services must register and obtain regulatory approval before continuing operations.
The commission had initially introduced guidelines for digital lending in 2022 but strengthened them in 2025 amid rising concerns over consumer debt, data privacy, and lending practices within Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital credit ecosystem.
With a transitional compliance deadline set for April 2026, industry players are now under pressure to align with the new rules or suspend affected services.
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