MTN Nigeria has restored its airtime and data borrowing service, allowing millions of subscribers to once again access emergency credit after weeks of disruption linked to a regulatory dispute. The telecommunications company confirmed that eligible customers can activate the service by dialling *303# to borrow airtime or data based on their approved credit limits.
Background of the Disruption
The restoration comes after Airtel and Glo had already resumed the service, following the suspension of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's (FCCPC) enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) Consumer Lending Regulations. The dispute had caused weeks of disruption for subscribers who rely on the service for banking, work, and emergency communication.
MTN Confirms Resumption
Speaking to Legit.ng, an official of MTN confirmed the resumption of credit service: "Please be informed that the service is back with the same code *303." The confirmation brought relief to many subscribers who had been unable to borrow airtime or data during the suspension.
Nigerians Welcome MTN's Decision
For many subscribers, the return of airtime and data borrowing is more than a convenience, as it provides a critical safety net for accessing banking services, work opportunities, family communication, and emergency support. Among those welcoming the development is Farouk Rabiu, a Lagos-based employee, who said the suspension caught him off guard. Rabiu said: "The first time I realised I could no longer borrow credit on Glo and MTN came as a big surprise." He explained that after exhausting his data, he had hoped to borrow airtime to access his bank account but was unable to do so. "I was devastated because, after exhausting my data, I was hoping to borrow credit to access my bank account. Instead, it was a major disappointment." Rabiu added that although airtime borrowing attracts service charges, it remains indispensable: "They do save you from some unnecessary embarrassment. I missed having that option."
ALTON Says 40 Million Subscribers Affected
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said the disruption highlighted how airtime lending has evolved into critical economic infrastructure. ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo said about 40 million Nigerians rely on the service regularly. "What this episode demonstrated is that airtime credit is not a financial product in the way regulators initially characterised it. It is economic infrastructure that approximately 40 million people use regularly, with the vast majority of them at the base of the economy." According to ALTON, the dispute threatened an industry valued at between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, while creating risks for consumer welfare, investor confidence, and regulatory certainty, the Guardian reports.
WASPAN Defends the Service
The Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN) also defended the service, saying airtime and data advances have become essential for traders, artisans, small business owners, and other Nigerians with limited access to conventional credit.
FCCPC Obeys Court Order
Legit.ng earlier reported that the FCCPC maintained that its intervention was intended to improve consumer protection and transparency in the digital lending sector. Following court orders and industry opposition, the commission suspended enforcement of the regulations pending the determination of the substantive suit. In a statement signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, the Commission said it decided, in obedience to a Federal High Court order restraining the enforcement of the regulations.
