Airtel Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data credit services following a new regulation issued by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The Director of Marketing of the telecommunications firm, Ismail Adeshina, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, introduces a new compliance and licensing framework for companies offering digital or non-traditional consumer credit services in the country.
Adeshina said the affected services previously allowed eligible prepaid customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.
He, however, disclosed that customers would continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to airtime and data purchases through the company’s existing channels.
He added that the temporary suspension was not expected to have a material impact on service delivery across the country.
He said: “This is a necessary and responsible step as we align our operations with evolving regulatory requirements.
“Airtel Nigeria remains committed to the highest standards of compliance, transparency and consumer protection, while continuing to innovate responsibly within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.”
Adeshina said the company would provide updates on the status of the service in due course.
NAN reports that the FCCPC regulation builds on earlier guidelines issued in 2022 to strengthen oversight of digital lending in Nigeria.
Under the new framework, all digital lenders, including telecom operators offering airtime or data credit services, are required to register with the commission.
The FCCPC had earlier set October 31, 2025 as the deadline for registration, with a penalty of N100 million for non-compliance before extending it to January 5, 2026 and subsequently to April 2026 to allow full compliance.
