Subscribers recount ordeal during airtime lending shutdown

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By Innocent Anaba

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Many Nigerian telecom subscribers have recounted the hardship they faced following the temporary shutdown of airtime and data lending services occasioned by the regulatory dispute between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and stakeholders in the telecommunications industry.

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Among those affected is Lagos-based employee, Farouk Rabiu, who described the suspension of the service as a frustrating experience after he was unable to borrow airtime to access his bank account during an emergency.

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Rabiu said he had exhausted his mobile data and, as he had done on previous occasions, attempted to use the airtime borrowing service on his Glo and MTN lines, only to discover that the facility had been suspended.

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“The first time I realized I could no longer borrow credit on Glo and MTN came as a big surprise.
“I was devastated because, after exhausting my data, I was hoping to borrow credit to access my bank account. Instead, it was a major disappointment,” he said.

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Despite acknowledging that airtime borrowing attracts service charges, Rabiu said the facility has become an indispensable lifeline for many Nigerians.

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“They do save you from some unnecessary embarrassment. I missed having that option,” he added.

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His experience reflects the plight of subscribers who rely on airtime and data advances for communication, internet access, financial transactions and other emergencies, but were affected by the disruption.

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Industry stakeholders say the episode exposed the importance of airtime lending to millions of low-income and prepaid users across the country.

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The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) described the service as critical economic infrastructure rather than merely a telecommunications product.

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ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said the shutdown demonstrated the extent to which Nigerians depend on airtime advances.

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“What this episode demonstrated is that airtime credit is not a financial product in the way regulators initially characterised it. It is economic infrastructure that approximately 40 million people use regularly, with the vast majority of them at the base of the economy,” Adebayo said.

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He warned that the dispute also threatened an industry estimated to be worth between ₦300 billion and ₦400 billion annually, with implications for consumer welfare, investor confidence and regulatory certainty.

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Similarly, the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which instituted legal action challenging aspects of the FCCPC regulations, said its intervention was aimed at protecting licensed operators and safeguarding a service depended upon by millions of Nigerians.

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According to the association, airtime and data borrowing have become vital support mechanisms for traders, artisans, small business owners and other Nigerians who often lack access to conventional sources of credit.

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The FCCPC, however, maintained that its intervention was motivated by consumer protection concerns.

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The Commission classified airtime and data advances as a form of consumer lending under its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, arguing that stronger regulatory oversight was necessary to promote transparency and accountability in the digital credit sector.

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Following court orders and widespread opposition from industry stakeholders, the Commission suspended enforcement of the regulations pending the determination of the substantive suit.

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FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the suspension was in compliance with the rule of law while the Commission continues to pursue its legal arguments before the court.

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For affected subscribers, however, the legal dispute is of secondary importance.

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Many say the restoration of airtime and data lending services is critical, describing the facility as an essential safety net that enables them to remain connected to work, banking services, business transactions, family members and emergency support amid prevailing economic challenges.

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