Airtel Nigeria has temporarily suspended its airtime and data credit services, becoming the second major telecom operator to halt such offerings following new regulatory requirements governing digital lending.
The company disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adeniran.
The affected services previously allowed eligible prepaid subscribers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.
Airtel said the suspension is part of efforts to comply with the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The new framework establishes licensing and compliance requirements for providers of digital or alternative consumer credit services, bringing telecom-based lending products under regulatory oversight.
Despite the suspension, Airtel assured customers that airtime and data purchases remain fully accessible through existing channels and that service quality will not be affected.
Director of Marketing, Ismail Adeshina, described the move as a necessary step to align with evolving regulatory expectations, emphasizing the company’s commitment to compliance, transparency, and consumer protection.
The development follows a similar decision by MTN Nigeria, which recently suspended its Xtratime service. The parallel actions suggest an industry-wide response to the tightening regulatory environment for digital credit services.
