MTN Subscribers Experience Delays with Emergency Airtime Advance Service

MTN Nigeria customers are facing longer waiting times when attempting to access the network's emergency credit lending platform, XtraTime.

The service, which traditionally allows eligible subscribers to borrow airtime or data during emergencies and repay on their subsequent recharge, has recently been hit by processing delays, leaving numerous users stranded.

A cross-section of subscribers voiced their frustrations, noting that requests that previously took mere seconds to clear are now taking several minutes, and in some cases, hours, to process. For many who rely on the automated system to make urgent business calls or access internet packages, the technical hitch has caused significant daily disruptions.

Industry observers suggest that the recent operational lag might be connected to ongoing system updates and data synchronization processes across the telecommunications firm’s infrastructure, as it looks to modernise its service delivery.

Additionally, the surge in demand for short-term credit facilities, driven by current macroeconomic conditions, is believed to be putting immense pressure on the automated vetting systems that evaluate subscriber eligibility in real time.

MTN Nigeria has acknowledged the hitches and assured consumers that technical teams are actively working to optimise the platform. The network operator emphasised its commitment to restoring the swift, seamless service that users expect, urging patience as infrastructure adjustments are completed to handle the increased system traffic.