The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has clarified that it has not banned airtime or data borrowing services in Nigeria, amid concerns following recent service disruptions by telecom operators.
The commission’s statement comes after MTN Nigeria suspended its “Xtratime” service, attributing the move to compliance with the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) consumer lending regulations introduced in 2025.
FCCPC explained that the regulations, unveiled in July 2025, were designed to promote transparency and ethical practices in the consumer lending space, particularly in response to complaints about hidden charges and aggressive recovery tactics.
While a compliance deadline of January 5, 2026, was set, the commission stressed that any disruption of services is a result of decisions by operators that failed to regularise their operations within the stipulated timeframe.
According to the FCCPC, the DEON framework does not prohibit airtime borrowing or data advance services but instead ensures that such offerings operate under clear guidelines, including proper disclosure of charges and stronger data protection measures.
“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 said.
The commission noted that its intervention followed widespread consumer complaints over unclear billing, unexplained deductions, and poor service transparency.
It added that the regulations aim to curb exploitative practices, enforce accountability among service providers and their partners, and build consumer confidence through a more transparent and well-regulated system.