Failed airtime and data purchases in Nigeria will be refunded in 30 seconds under proposed NCC, CBN rules
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is preparing to roll out a new refund framework that mandates near-real-time refunds for failed airtime and data transactions. The framework, which is awaiting final regulatory approvals, is expected to take effect on March 1, 2026.
Failed airtime and data purchases in which a user’s bank account is debited but no service is delivered have been among the most common consumer complaints in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem. According to the NCC, such complaints consistently rank among the top three issues raised by telecom subscribers.
Under the new framework, customers who are debited without receiving airtime or data will be entitled to an automatic refund within 30 seconds, regardless of whether the failure occurs at the bank level or within a telecom operator’s system. However, if transactions remain pending, refunds may take up to 24 hours.
