MTN has restored its airtime lending service after weeks of disruption, bringing relief to millions of Nigerian subscribers caught in a regulatory dispute. The move followed similar actions by Airtel and Glo once the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) suspended enforcement of parts of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations.
About 40 million subscribers depend on airtime lending, making it a critical service in Nigeria's digital credit ecosystem valued between N300 billion and N400 billion annually. For many users, the return of the service means restored access to an emergency lifeline during financial difficulties.
Farouk Rabiu, a Lagos-based employee, described his frustration when the service vanished without warning. He explained that after exhausting his data, he'd hoped to borrow credit to access his bank account but found the option gone.
"They do save you from some unnecessary embarrassment. I missed having that option," Rabiu told reporters.
Though he acknowledged the charges can be steep, Rabiu stressed the service remains essential to him. His experience mirrors concerns raised by other subscribers who view the disruption as proof of airtime lending's growing importance across Nigeria.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said the episode revealed something critical about the service. According to him, airtime credit has evolved far beyond a traditional telecommunications product into genuine economic infrastructure supporting roughly 40 million people, predominantly those at the economy's base.
ALTON warned that the suspension posed serious risks to consumer welfare, investor confidence and regulatory certainty in an industry worth hundreds of billions annually. The group highlighted how the disruption exposed vulnerabilities in the sector's stability.
The Wireless Application Service Providers' Association of Nigeria (WASPAN) challenged the FCCPC's regulations in court to defend licensed operators and subscribers depending on airtime and data advances. According to WASPAN, the service has become vital support for traders, artisans and small business owners with limited access to traditional credit.
The FCCPC, however, defended its position on consumer protection grounds, classifying airtime and data advances as consumer lending requiring stronger regulatory oversight. The commission argued that heightened supervision would improve transparency and accountability across the digital credit market.
Following court orders and mounting industry opposition, the FCCPC suspended enforcement of the contested regulations, allowing operators to resume the service. The development ends an uncertain period that threatened to upend a crucial financial mechanism for millions of ordinary Nigerians struggling to maintain connectivity and access essential services.
