Airtel and Globacom have already restored similar services. MTN now follows after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) suspended enforcement of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations 2025.

The regulator introduced the policy in 2025 and classified airtime and data lending as consumer credit. This required telecom operators and their partners to obtain licences and meet compliance conditions.

In April 2026, MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile suspended airtime lending services to comply with the directive.

A court order issued on April 15, 2026, followed a case filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which represents value-added service providers. The order triggered further regulatory challenges and expanded the disruption.

By one estimate, the suspension affected about 40 million subscribers across Nigeria. Many of them depend on airtime borrowing for quick communication, small business operations and emergency use. The service sits within a market valued at about ₦400 billion.

MTN had initially taken a careful position. The company told investors it would not restart Xtratime unless the regulations were struck down or it received a clear directive to resume.

That position has now changed, after the FCCPC paused enforcement on May 22, 2026, MTN confirmed it will reinstate the service.

A company insider said: “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has suspended the enforcement of DEON. To that extent, we will reinstate the service,”

Competition also had an impact. Airtel and Globacom moved earlier to restore their own airtime lending platforms once the enforcement pause began, increasing pressure on MTN to follow.

MTN Xtratime lending allows customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on later top-ups. The service generates fees for the company and supports overall network usage.

During an earnings call, MTN Nigeria chief executive Karl Toriola said the impact on usage was short-lived. He said:

“There was a short-term impact on consumption patterns, which lasted only a few days,” MTN Nigeria chief executive officer Karl Toriola said during the earnings call. “However, as time progressed, customers adapted. They either shifted to self-funded usage or found alternative ways to manage short-term needs.”

The company estimates that Xtratime fees contribute about 3% of total revenue. Airtime and data linked to the service account for roughly 20% of overall airtime distribution.

Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s chief corporate services and sustainability officer, also noted earlier concerns around resumption conditions.

He said: “First, we would require either a court ruling that sets aside the regulations empowering the FCCPC to license, which has not happened, or a clear directive instructing us to reinstate the service.”

MTN Nigeria recorded ₦5.2 trillion in revenue in 2025, equal to about $3.77 billion. It expects this to rise to ₦6.24 trillion, or about $4.52 billion, in 2026.

Despite the disruption, MTN maintains that airtime consumption patterns are still stable. The company argues that customers mainly changed how they pay, not how much they use services.

“I note that MTN does not expect Xtratime’s absence to derail performance targets,” an executive said in internal discussions around the update.

In its first quarter 2026 report, MTN said it is still onboarding approved partners and expects full restoration once the process is completed.

The company now treats the service as operationally important but not critical to overall performance.

Driven by a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) following a clean billing audit, the goal is to show users exactly how background app activities, automatic updates, and video streaming drain their balances as data consumption across the country skyrockets.

Operators have already started sending customers daily reports showing how much data they used the previous day.

An official at one of the telecom companies in Nigeria said the data depletion issue has become a major concern across the industry.

“An average subscriber believes their service provider steals their data once their data is exhausted before time or depletes faster than they expected, which is not true.

“Over the years, we have tried to enlighten the subscribers on factors that could lead to their data being depleted fast, which include smartphone functionality, among others.

“And now, we are looking at tools that could show the subscribers not just what they have used, but also how they have used it to further promote transparency,” the source said.

He added that operators are also stepping up public awareness campaigns to help subscribers understand why data may finish faster than expected.

The renewed drive for transparency comes as data usage across Nigeria gets more expensive.

Nigerians consumed more than four billion gigabytes of data in the first quarter of 2026, driven by heavy use of video streaming platforms, social media, fintech services and remote work tools.

That growth has also increased pressure on telecom infrastructure, with networks in many parts of the country now struggling during peak hours, leaving subscribers with slower internet speeds and unstable connections.

Many users often interpret those issues as abnormal data depletion.

Telecom operators are also dealing with worsening infrastructure problems. Industry data showed there were 19,384 fibre cuts in 2025, while another 5,934 incidents were recorded in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

At the same time, only about 25% of planned 4G expansion projects for 2026 have been completed, leaving networks overstretched as internet demand grows.

In December 2024, the NCC said it carried out a billing audit across major mobile networks after repeated complaints from subscribers. According to the regulator, the audit did not uncover any major issue linked to unfair data deductions.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the exercise was completed in the third quarter of 2024 using independent auditors.

“We had a hypothesis that it isn’t true that there is a data depletion issue in the industry. It could be perception.

“So the first thing we did was that we immediately conducted a billing audit on the systems of the major MNOs, using reputable auditors. That exercise was completed in Q3 of this year (2024) and surprisingly, we didn’t find any major issues,” he said.

The NCC has repeatedly warned that several smartphone features and apps consume data without users actively using them. According to the commission, background app activity, cloud syncing, automatic updates and location services are some of the biggest causes of unexpected data usage.

The regulator advised subscribers to monitor their usage regularly, turn off background data access for selected apps and disable automatic updates where necessary.

It also recommended using Wi-Fi whenever possible and installing ad blockers to reduce unwanted data consumption from online advertisements.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is reviewing its 26-year-old telecom policy as the government looks to address growing pressure on the sector.

Proposed reforms include stronger consumer protection rules, new tariff structures, wider 5G deployment and tougher measures to protect telecom infrastructure from vandalism and fibre cuts.

Authorities say the reforms are aimed at improving digital access, strengthening cybersecurity and encouraging long-term investment in the country’s telecom industry, ultimately reducing data depletion across Nigeria.

Whether you’re streaming music on your commute, catching up on TikTok or YouTube, or simply keeping apps updated in the background, mobile data has a way of disappearing faster than expected.

On May 22, 2026, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) took to X (formerly Twitter) with a timely advisory that cuts through the frustration.

The regulator highlighted three culprits, streaming, auto-downloads, and background app activity, and offered practical, device-agnostic steps to regain control.

Why Your Data Vanishes:

The Hidden Culprits

Modern smartphones are designed to stay connected 24/7. Apps refresh in the background, videos auto-play as you scroll, and cloud services quietly sync photos, documents, and updates.

Streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube, or TikTok are particularly voracious, especially on higher quality settings.

According to broader NCC consumer education resources, social media and video apps often top the list of data consumers.

Without deliberate management, even moderate users can burn through gigabytes without realizing it.

The NCC’s graphic accompanying the tweet drives the message home visually: Your Apps quietly use data. You can control it.

It features clear illustrations for Android/iOS-style settings, making the advice accessible to the average Nigerian subscriber juggling MTN, Airtel, Glo, or 9mobile bundles.

NCC’s 3 Simple Ways to Manage Data Usage:

Here’s a breakdown of the regulator’s recommendations, expanded with actionable details:

1. Turn off background data for apps

Many apps continue downloading and uploading data even when you’re not actively using them, think email sync, news feeds, or social media notifications.

On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > [Select App] > Mobile data & Wi-Fi > Disable Background data.

On iOS: Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Off (or Wi-Fi only).

This single tweak can dramatically reduce silent consumption.

2. Disable auto-play and auto-downloads

Auto-playing videos on X, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube can consume hundreds of MB per hour. Auto-downloads for media or app updates add up quickly.

In individual apps: Look for Data usage, Autoplay, or Media quality settings and switch to “Wi-Fi only” or off. System-wide: Disable automatic app updates over mobile data in your app store settings.

3. Enable Data Saver or Low Data Mode

Both Android and iOS have built-in modes that restrict background activity and compress data where possible. Android: Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver.

iOS: Settings > Cellular > Low Data Mode.

These features often prompt you before heavy downloads and limit high-resolution streaming.

Beyond the Basics: Additional NCC-Inspired TipsThe Commission’s consumer portal expands on these fundamentals with more comprehensive strategies:

• Monitor your usage: Check built-in data trackers weekly to identify top offenders.
• Set alerts and limits: Most phones allow you to set a data warning or hard cap.
• Leverage Wi-Fi wisely: Download large files, update apps, and stream at home or office.
• Restrict location services and other sensors for non-essential apps.
• Use offline modes in Spotify, YouTube, or Maps when possible.

These tips are especially relevant amid ongoing conversations about perceived rapid data depletion, even as operators face pressure to deliver better value.

Consumer Empowerment in a Competitive Market

NCC’s role extends beyond regulation to active consumer education. By issuing such advisories, the Commission empowers subscribers to maximize value from their hard-earned airtime and data bundles while holding operators accountable for quality of service.

In a market serving over 200 million mobile users, small individual actions compound into significant savings, both financially and in terms of frustration.

Parents managing family plans, students on tight budgets, and professionals reliant on mobile internet all stand to benefit. Take Action Today

Next time you feel your data vanishing, remember the NCC’s message: the power is in your hands (and your phone settings).

Review your app permissions, tweak those background settings, and enable Data Saver. You might be surprised how much further your next bundle goes.

What data management tricks have worked for you? Share in the comments.

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