Airtime Lending Resumes After Regulator Suspends Enforcement
Pecohub Millions of eligible telecom subscribers have regained access to airtime lending services following the restoration of the platform by MTN Nigeria after weeks of disruption triggered by a regulatory dispute over digital consumer lending.
The restoration follows similar moves by Airtel Nigeria and Globacom after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC)suspended the enforcement of disputed provisions of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations pending the determination of a suit before the court
The restoration effectively returns one of the country’s most widely used emergency telecom services, allowing subscribers to borrow airtime and data when they run out of credit.
Stakeholders say airtime lending has become an important support service for millions of Nigerians, particularly low-income earners, traders, artisans and small business owners who depend on uninterrupted mobile connectivity for communication, banking and commercial activities. With about 40 million users relying on airtime lending even as the ecosystem.is valued at a ₦300–₦400 billion market annually.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria had earlier warned that the disruption would affect millions of subscribers who rely on airtime advances for everyday communication.
