MTN Suspends Xtratime Airtime and Data Credit Service Over FCCPC Digital Lending Regulations 2025
MTN Nigeria has confirmed a temporary halt to its airtime and data credit service, Xtratime, in response to fresh regulatory directives issued by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The development was disclosed in a filing submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday, as PulseNets learnt that the decision aligns with compliance obligations under the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
Xtratime, a popular offering among prepaid users, enables subscribers to access airtime or data on credit and settle repayment upon their next recharge.
In the official disclosure signed by Company Secretary Uto Ukpanah, the telecom operator confirmed the suspension, stating, “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 clarified that the service is now captured within the FCCPC’s broadened regulatory scope, which introduces mandatory licensing and stricter compliance requirements for digital credit service providers. PulseNets reported that this shift reflects a wider regulatory push to formalise Nigeria’s digital lending ecosystem.
“The suspension 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 statement added.
Despite the pause in Xtratime operations, MTN Nigeria reassured customers that standard airtime and data purchase channels remain unaffected. The company also indicated that the financial implications of the suspension are expected to be minimal.
“Given the scale within the revenue mix, we do not expect the temporary suspension to have a material impact,” the company said, adding that it is closely monitoring customer behaviour and will provide further updates in its first-quarter 2026 results.
Industry watchers note that the FCCPC’s updated 2025 framework significantly expands regulatory oversight across Nigeria’s digital lending space, now covering telecom operators and other short-term credit providers. PulseNets learnt that affected entities must complete registration and secure regulatory clearance to continue offering such services.
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The Commission initially rolled out a digital lending framework in 2022 but strengthened it in 2025 amid increasing concerns surrounding consumer debt exposure, data protection, and lending ethics.
With an April 2026 deadline set for full compliance, operators across the sector are under pressure to meet the new standards or face potential sanctions, signalling a stricter era for Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital credit market.
