Your airtime runs out late at night, the shops are closed, and you need to make a call or send a message now. Every major Nigerian network lets you borrow airtime or data and pay it back with your next recharge. The codes have changed, though, and most guides online still list the old ones. This guide gives you the current codes for MTN, Airtel and Glo in 2026, who qualifies, what it costs, and why a borrow request can fail.
The short answer: dial *303# on MTN, Airtel or Glo and choose to borrow airtime or data. The amount you can borrow depends on how long you have used the line and how much you usually recharge. A service fee applies, and the loan is deducted automatically from your next recharge.
The borrow code is now the same on every network
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has harmonised the common short codes so that the same code does the same thing on every network. For borrowing, that code is *303#. The older codes still appear in many guides and may still work on some lines:
| Network | Service name | Current code | Older code |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN | XtraTime (airtime) and XtraByte (data) | *303# | *606# |
| Airtel | Airtel borrow airtime and data | *303# | *500# |
| Glo | Glo Borrow Me | *303# | *321# |
If *303# gives an error, try the network’s app or the older code, or ask customer care which code your line should use.
How to borrow airtime and data on MTN
- Dial *303#.
- Choose whether you want airtime (XtraTime) or data.
- Pick one of the amounts or bundles offered. MTN only shows the amounts your line qualifies for.
- Confirm. The airtime or data is credited straight away and you get an SMS with the amount you owe.
You can also borrow in the MyMTN app. MTN may offer to lend automatically when you run out mid-call or mid-browse; check the terms before you accept.
How to borrow airtime and data on Airtel
- Dial *303#.
- Choose to borrow airtime or data.
- Select an amount from the options shown.
- Confirm. The service fee is shown in the menu or the confirmation SMS.
The Airtel Thanks app also shows borrowing options and how much you owe.
How to borrow airtime and data on Glo
- Dial *303#.
- Choose Borrow Me airtime or data.
- Select an amount from the list.
- Confirm. You get an SMS showing the loan and the fee.
Who can borrow?
Each network sets its own rules and does not publish every detail, but the conditions are broadly similar:
- An active line with some history. New SIMs usually cannot borrow. Many lines need to have been active for a few months.
- Regular recharges. The amount you can borrow is based on how much you usually spend. Heavy users get bigger limits.
- No outstanding loan. You must repay one loan before taking another.
- NIN linked to the line. Lines that are not linked to a National Identification Number can have services restricted.
- Prepaid line. Borrowing is generally for prepaid customers.
How much does borrowing cost?
Every borrow carries a service fee, usually somewhere around 10% to 15% of the amount. Depending on the network, the fee is either taken upfront (you borrow ₦500 and receive slightly less) or added to what you owe (you receive ₦500 and repay a bit more). The menu or the confirmation SMS shows the exact charge for your loan.
That fee is the real cost of convenience. Borrowing ₦500 every few days can add up to hundreds of naira a month in fees. If you borrow often, it is cheaper to keep a small balance in a wallet and recharge yourself.
How repayment works
- The loan, plus any fee, is deducted automatically from your next recharge, whether you recharge with a card, by USSD, from a bank app or from a wallet.
- If the recharge is smaller than what you owe, the network takes what it can and recovers the rest from later recharges.
- Some networks also recover the loan from other balances on the line.
- You cannot borrow again until the first loan is cleared.
Plan for this. If you borrow ₦1,000 and then recharge ₦1,000, you may end up with almost nothing usable.
Why your borrow request failed
- “You are not eligible”: the line is too new, recharges are too low, or there is an unpaid loan. Use the line normally for a while and try again.
- Outstanding loan: recharge enough to clear it first.
- Invalid code: try *303#, then the older code for your network, or the network’s app.
- Line not linked to NIN: link your NIN at a service centre or through the network’s NIN code.
- Service temporarily unavailable: borrowing services are occasionally paused for system or regulatory reasons. Try later or check the network’s social media.
Borrowing scams to avoid
Fraudsters use the idea of “loans” to steal airtime and money:
- Fake “loan approved” SMS asking you to dial a code or send airtime to “activate” a loan. Real network loans never ask you to send anything.
- “Customer care” calls asking for your PIN, OTP or the code that just arrived by SMS. Networks never ask for these.
- Airtime “loan agents” on WhatsApp or Telegram who ask for a fee first. They disappear once paid.
Only borrow through *303# or the network’s official app. Read how to protect your OTP, PIN and SIM for more.
When borrowing makes sense, and when it does not
Borrowing is useful when you need a little airtime right now and have no other option: an urgent call at night, a ride to arrange, a message that cannot wait. It is a bad habit when it becomes routine. Every loan costs a fee, every recharge starts by paying off the last loan, and you never quite catch up.
Some signs you are borrowing too often:
- You borrow more than twice a month.
- Most of each recharge goes to repaying a loan.
- You often find your airtime gone right after recharging.
If that sounds familiar, a small buffer you control works better than a loan you pay for.
Borrowing data vs buying a small bundle
Data loans are usually small bundles at roughly normal prices plus the fee. If you have even a little money in a wallet or bank account, buying a small daily bundle is usually cheaper than borrowing the same size. On Mabro, daily bundles start from well under ₦100 on all three networks; see the full list on the data plans page.
Borrow, share or buy: which is best?
| Option | Cost | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow airtime or data (*303#) | Service fee on every loan | Genuine emergencies with no other option |
| Ask someone to share airtime (*321#) | Usually free or a small fee for the sender | A friend or family member can help |
| Buy from a funded wallet | Face value, no borrowing fee | Any time; especially if you borrow often |
Never be stuck again: keep a wallet balance
The simplest way to stop borrowing is to keep a small balance in a wallet you can spend from at any hour. With Mabro you fund your wallet once by bank transfer, then buy airtime or data for any MTN, Airtel, Glo or 9mobile number in seconds, at 2 a.m. or on a Sunday, with no borrowing fee and nothing deducted from your next recharge.
Have airtime you will not use? You can do the opposite too: convert airtime to cash and keep the naira for when you need it. Read how to transfer airtime and how to check your data balance for the other codes you will use most.
Frequently asked questions
What is the code to borrow airtime on MTN?
Dial *303# and choose XtraTime. The older code *606# may still work on some lines.
What is the code to borrow airtime on Airtel?
Dial *303#. Airtel’s older borrow code was *500#.
What is the code to borrow airtime on Glo?
Dial *303# and choose Borrow Me. Older guides list *321#, which is now mainly used for sharing airtime.
Can I borrow data instead of airtime?
Yes. MTN, Airtel and Glo all offer data loans through *303#. Choose data in the menu and pick a bundle.
How much can I borrow?
It depends on your line’s history and how much you usually recharge. The menu only shows amounts you qualify for.
How much is the borrowing fee?
Usually around 10% to 15% of the amount, either deducted upfront or added to what you repay. The exact fee is shown before you confirm or in the SMS.
How do I pay back borrowed airtime?
Just recharge. The loan and fee are deducted automatically from your next recharge.
Why can’t I borrow airtime?
Common reasons are a new line, low recharge history, an unpaid loan, or a line not linked to a NIN. Clear any loan and use the line normally for a while before trying again.
Can I borrow airtime for someone else?
No. Loans are credited to the line that requests them. To help someone else, share airtime with *321# or buy airtime for their number from your wallet.