Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has clarified that airtime and data borrowing services have not been banned in Nigeria.
The clarification comes after MTN Nigeria recently suspended its “Xtratime” service, citing compliance with the 2025 Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) consumer lending regulations.
The FCCPC explained that the regulations, introduced in July 2025, were designed to ensure transparency and ethical practices in digital lending, particularly in response to complaints about hidden charges and aggressive debt recovery methods.
Although a compliance deadline of January 5, 2026, was set, the commission stated that any disruption in services is due to individual operators failing to align with the guidelines, not because of a regulatory ban.
According to the commission, the DEON framework aims to create a more balanced market by enforcing proper data protection measures and clear disclosure of charges and terms.
“The commission has not prohibited airtime borrowing or data advance services, and no directive was issued preventing consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services,” the statement reads.
The FCCPC added that its intervention followed numerous consumer complaints, including unclear charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery tactics, and poor transparency.
These concerns led to the introduction of the DEON regulations to address malpractice and restore confidence in the system.
“The regulations were introduced to curb the excesses of abusive service providers whose practices had generated persistent consumer harm and undermined confidence in the market,” the FCCPC said.
- “The primary aim is to promote a fairer and more transparent system by mandating proper registration, responsible lending conduct, clear disclosure of fees and terms, accessible consumer complaint channels, data protection safeguards, stronger accountability for third-party partners, and effective regulatory oversight.”