Airtime/data lending: Subscribers want transparent, flexible, user-friendly service

Some Nigerians on Tuesday urged the new firms that have recently been approved to take over airtime and data lending from the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to be transparent, flexible, and user-friendly.

The subscribers, who spoke with our correspondent in Lagos in separate interviews, said that these were their expectations and requests for the new firms.

They expressed cautious optimism that the change in micro-credit providers could improve service delivery, if properly regulated.

Our correspondent recalls that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) approved five firms to provide digital airtime and data lending services.

This move follows new regulatory requirement that led major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like MTN and Airtel to suspend their own borrowing services, such as the MTN Xtratime.

The five firms approved for airtime & data lending as of April 2026 are Total TIM Nigeria Limited; Rane Interactive Medien CLS Limited; Mode NG Applications Nigeria Limited; Cloud Interactive Associate Limited and Coverage Broadband Limited.

These developments were done in compliance with the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.

The FCCPC maintained that it had not banned airtime or data lending services but introduced regulations to address consumer complaints, including opaque charges and poor disclosure practices.

It said any service involving lending must comply with established consumer protection guidelines to ensure fairness and accountability.

The commission stressed that the new firms met requirements under the new lending regulations aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and consumer protection in digital credit services.

Speaking on the development, an undergraduate, simply called Hakim, said: “For me, it’s about flexibility. Let the firms always give us more time to repay. Life is unpredictable, and strict repayment deadlines don’t help struggling users.”

Zainab, a secondary school teacher, said:
“I hope the new firms will educate users. Many people don’t understand how airtime loans work. Awareness will help people avoid unnecessary debt.

Kemi, a Lagos-based Undergraduate, said: “If they can integrate with apps we already use, like banking or mobile wallets, it’ll be easier. Convenience matters more than anything for my generation.”

Musa Abdullahi, a Civil Servant, extended a simple appeal: “Don’t turn this into another debt trap. Keep interest low and avoid aggressive deductions that leave people stranded.”

Tunde Ajayi, a Lagos-based Uber Rider, appealed for flexible repayment structures, noting that rigid deadlines often worsened financial strain for low-income earners.

On the other part, another student, Nwankwo Favor, highlighted the importance of micro options, stating that smaller and more accessible loan sizes would benefit students and low-income users.

“I want smaller borrowing options. Not everyone needs big data bundles. Even ₦100 or ₦200 data loans should be available without stress,” she said.

Similarly, Musa Abdullahi, another civil servant, warned against exploitative practices, urging regulators to ensure that interest rates remain fair and consumer-friendly.

He noted that while the transition could drive innovation, failure to address past challenges may erode public confidence.

Abdullah added that micro-credit services in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector was very important, as digital access was increasingly tied to economic participation.