CBN, NCC to Stop Failed Airtime/Data Transactions
Last update: February 9, 2026
Disclaimer: This website may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. We only recommend products or services that we personally use and believe will add value to our readers. Your support is appreciated!
The move is expected to boost trust in digital recharge channels.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have jointly launched a new consumer protection framework aimed at eliminating frustrations from failed airtime and data purchases, where subscribers are debited without receiving value.
CBI News reports that the 20-page draft guideline, published on the CBN website, mandates automatic refunds within 30 seconds for successful debits that fail to deliver airtime or data—whether the issue stems from banks, telecom operators, network downtimes, system glitches, or user errors. In cases where transactions remain pending, refunds must occur within 24 hours.
Developed through consultations with mobile network operators, banks, payment providers, and other stakeholders, the framework also introduces enforceable service level agreements (SLAs), a centralized joint monitoring dashboard hosted by the CBN and NCC to track failures, refunds, and compliance violations.
Implementation is set to begin on March 1, 2026 following final approvals and technical integrations. Regulators highlighted that the initiative builds on prior efforts that have already seen over ₦10 billion refunded to affected consumers.
The move is expected to reduce persistent complaints, and align Nigeria's telecom and financial sectors with stronger consumer safeguards.
