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Interim court order blocks consumer protection regulations that had classified airtime borrowing as digital lending under DEON rules.
Airtel and Globacom (Glo) have officially resumed their airtime and data lending services in Nigeria after a six-week suspension.
RELATED: Airtime borrowing suspension sparks outcry as court halts FCCPC digital lending rules
The airtime lending services resumed on these major Nigerian networks following an interim court order blocking the consumer protection regulations that had caused the temporary suspension.
ALSO READ: Telcos recover over N2 trillion as FCCPC crackdown on airtime loans triggers service restrictions, hits millions of Nigerians
Subscribers can once again access emergency credit directly through their standard network shortcodes.
Why the Services Were Suspended
The suspension began in early April 2026 when the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) expanded its Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations. These rules classified airtime borrowing as a conventional digital loan, forcing telecom companies to act like commercial lenders with strict credit-checking burdens.
Telecom operators pushed back, arguing that airtime credit is a value-added service already regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), not a digital loan product.
Why They Have Resumed
The return of the services follows a public notice by the FCCPC suspending the enforcement of these regulations. This policy shift was triggered by an interim order from the Federal High Court in Lagos, alongside a legal challenge by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN).
Network Status as of Late May 2026
| Network | Status |
|---|---|
| Airtel | Fully active and restored |
| Glo | Fully active and restored |
| MTN | Not yet resumed (expected shortly following regulatory clearance) |
How to Borrow Airtime Under the Unified NCC Codes
Subscribers can access emergency credit using the harmonised USSD codes mandated by the NCC:
- Airtel:Â Dial *303#
- Glo:Â Dial *303#
