Airtel, Glo Restore Airtime Lending as MTN Still Holds Out
By Aboki Forex —
Airtel and Glo have resumed airtime lending services after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) suspended enforcement of its consumer lending regulation. The move follows a Federal High Court order that restrained the FCCPC from enforcing the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON) 2025.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) welcomed the development. Its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said the regulatory environment is now clear and full restoration is imminent across all networks. About 40 million Nigerians depend on airtime and data credit services, mostly prepaid and low-income subscribers.
MTN Nigeria has not yet restored its XtraTime service. The company says it needs either a court ruling setting aside the regulations or a clear directive from the FCCPC before resuming the offering. Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN Nigeria's Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, stated during an earnings call that two conditions must be met for reinstatement.
Subscribers have taken to social media to compare operators. One Facebook user, Frank Rock, wrote: 'Airtel best.' Another commenter, IB Bernard, said: 'I loan 5k for Airtel now.' The reactions show that early movers are winning customer praise while MTN faces pressure to act.
Industry stakeholders remain confident that full restoration is near. ALTON expects every operator to act with the urgency their subscribers deserve.