Millions of mobile users in Nigeria have received relief after a court ordered telecom companies to bring back airtime and data borrowing services on major networks.
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, directed operators such as MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria to immediately restore the “borrow airtime” and “borrow data” features that were recently removed.
The court said the suspension of these services was done without proper legal or regulatory approval, adding that it was unfair to customers who depend on them, especially in urgent situations.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Ibrahim Musa stated that telecom companies must follow consumer protection rules and cannot withdraw essential services without due process.
The court also stressed that subscribers should not be left stranded by sudden service changes, especially when those services are widely used for emergencies.
Following the ruling, many users welcomed the decision. A subscriber, Chinedu Okeke, said the return of the service was a big relief because many people rely on borrowed airtime when they urgently need to make calls.
Another user, Aisha Bello, said the feature is very important because not everyone can recharge their phone at any time, especially during unexpected situations.
The ruling is expected to restore access for millions of Nigerians, particularly low-income earners who depend on airtime and data loans to stay connected.
As of the time of filing this report, both MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria have not yet released official statements on when the services will be fully restored.