Guide
How to borrow airtime on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile
Out of credit? Here's how to borrow airtime from your network when you're low — and a quicker way to never run dry.
Caught short with no credit? Every Nigerian network lets eligible customers borrow a small amount of airtime (or data) and repay it on your next recharge. Here's how it works on each network — what it costs, and why topping up instantly is usually the better move.
The code is the same on every network: *303#
Following the NCC's harmonisation of USSD codes, *303# is now the single "Borrow" code across MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile. Dial it and choose Borrow Airtime (or Borrow Data). The old per-network codes (like *500#, *505#, *606#) have been retired.
- MTN — XtraTime (airtime) / XtraByte (data)
- Airtel — Credit / Extra Credit
- Glo — Borrow Me Credit
- 9mobile — More Credit
Who can borrow, and what it costs
- Eligibility: an active prepaid line that's been on the network for at least 3–4 months, with a NIN-linked SIM, regular recharges (around ₦200+ a month), and no outstanding airtime loan.
- Service charge: all four networks charge a flat 15% on what you borrow — so if you borrow ₦100 you receive about ₦85, and the full ₦100 is owed.
- Repayment: automatic — the amount you owe is deducted from your next recharge, on any channel.
To check whether you qualify, dial *303# and look for the eligibility or "My Account" option.
A heads-up: airtime borrowing has been unstable
In April 2026, airtime and data lending was suspended nationwide after a consumer-protection directive (the FCCPC's DEON rules), cutting off the service for tens of millions of prepaid users. It was restored across the networks within weeks following court injunctions, but the case is still in dispute (a hearing was set for July 2026), so the service has been on-and-off and could change again.
The practical takeaway: borrowing can disappear when you most need it, and even when it works it costs a flat 15%.
Watch out for scams. Borrowing being "back" is sometimes confused with a separate, genuine NCC programme that compensates subscribers with free airtime for poor network service. The real compensation is automatic and notified by SMS — no one will ask you to click a link, dial a special code, or pay to "claim" or "reactivate" anything. If they do, it's a scam.
The reliable alternative: just top up instantly
Instead of borrowing and repaying with a 15% fee, fund your Easy Recharge wallet once and top up airtime or data the moment you need it — delivered in seconds, on any network, for yourself or anyone else, with 2% cashback on every buy. No eligibility checks, no repayment, no 15% charge, and nothing that can be switched off by a regulation.