Airtel Nigeria has suspended its airtime and data loan services following new regulatory requirements issued by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), with similar compliance measures expected across other telecom operators including MTN Nigeria.
The company’s Director of Marketing, Ismail Adeshina, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
He explained that the suspension was necessitated by the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, which introduced a new compliance and licensing framework for organisations offering digital or non-traditional consumer loan services.
According to him, the affected services previously allowed eligible prepaid customers to obtain airtime or data loans and repay during their next recharge.
Adeshina, however, assured customers that access to airtime and data purchases through the company’s existing channels would continue without interruption.
He added that the temporary suspension was not expected to significantly affect overall service delivery nationwide.
“This is a necessary and responsible step as we align our operations with evolving regulatory requirements,” he said.
Adeshina reaffirmed the company’s commitment to maintaining high standards of compliance, transparency and consumer protection while continuing to innovate responsibly within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The FCCPC regulation builds on earlier guidelines issued in 2022 to strengthen oversight of digital lending activities in Nigeria.
Under the new framework, all digital lenders, including telecommunications companies offering airtime or data loan services, are required to register with the commission.
The FCCPC had earlier set Oct. 31, 2025, as the registration deadline with a penalty of ₦100 million for non-compliance, before extending it to Jan. 5, 2026, and later to April 2026 to allow full compliance.
The development signals a broader industry adjustment as telecom operators align their loan-based services with the updated regulatory framework.
