By Our Correspondent

National News – Airtel Nigeria has temporarily halted its airtime and data borrowing services for prepaid subscribers across Nigeria.

The decision, announced on April 17, 2026, affects customers who previously relied on the credit service to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.

The company said the move is part of efforts to comply with evolving regulatory requirements in the telecom sector.

According to Airtel Nigeria’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adeniran, the suspension is temporary and aligns with new operational and regulatory expectations.

He explained that while the credit service is paused, customers can still purchase airtime and data normally through existing channels without any disruption.

Also commenting, the Director of Marketing, Ismail Adeshina, described the decision as necessary to ensure compliance, transparency, and consumer protection.

He noted that the company remains committed to responsible innovation within Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital ecosystem.

The development comes amid increasing scrutiny of digital lending services by regulators, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which has introduced stricter rules governing credit-based offerings by telecom operators.

Similar actions have recently been taken by other network providers in response to these directives.

Airtel assured subscribers that the suspension will not impact network performance or overall service quality.

The company added that updates regarding the reinstatement of the borrowing service will be communicated in due course.