The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has clarified that it has not banned airtime or data borrowing services in Nigeria.
The clarification comes after MTN Nigeria suspended its “Xtratime” service, citing compliance with the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) consumer lending regulations introduced in 2025.
According to the commission, the DEON framework—launched in July 2025—was designed to improve transparency and ensure ethical loan recovery practices, following widespread consumer complaints about hidden charges and aggressive debt collection.
Although a compliance deadline of January 5, 2026, was set, the FCCPC stressed that any disruption to services stems from decisions by operators that failed to meet the requirements within the stipulated timeframe, not from any outright ban.
The commission explained that the regulations are intended to promote fairness in the market by enforcing data protection standards and requiring clear disclosure of fees and terms.
“The commission has not prohibited airtime borrowing or data advance services, and no directive has been issued restricting consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services,” the statement said.
The FCCPC added that its intervention was prompted by repeated consumer complaints, including unclear billing, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery tactics, and poor transparency.
It noted that the DEON regulations were introduced to address these concerns and curb exploitative practices among service providers, with the broader goal of strengthening consumer trust.
According to the commission, the rules aim to create a more transparent and accountable system through proper registration, responsible lending practices, clear communication of charges, accessible complaint channels, stronger data protection measures, and improved regulatory oversight.
