So you have exhausted your airtime and cannot recharge your line at the moment due to different reasons. Maybe you have no cash, or maybe you have, but there is no Airtime vender around. What else can you do? Well, you can borrow airtime from your network provider and pay at a later time.
All the network providers we have in Nigeria right now have a way for their users to borrow airtime from them and pay later. Probably when they now have access to funds. This is particularly helpful for those who do not have money at the moment. Or people who do, but cannot buy airtime for one reason or the other. Like your mobile banking app being down or finding it hard to locate an Airtime vendor.
However, there is a tiny bit twist to borrowing the airtime. All the network service provider charge a 10% service charge for any Airtime you borrow from them. Meaning that if you borrow let’s say N100 you will only get credited with N90 and a total of N100 will be deducted from your account on your next recharge. If you Borrow N50, you will get credited with N45, and a total of N50 will be deducted from your account on your next recharge.
Borrowed airtime on all networks cannot be used to buy data. It can only be used to make phone calls and send text messages. Borrowed airtime also have an expiration date, and you should endeavor to use up the Airtime and pay back Before that expiration date. Unless you risk the airtime being taken back from you or not being able to borrow again. Also, the lesser the amount Borrowed, the shorter the expiration period.
You should also know that the amount you can borrow depends on if you have been recharging frequently. If you rarely recharge your line or you have not recharged your line in a while. Then it is safe to say you might not be eligible to borrow or be eligible to borrow a small amount like N100 or N200 at most. On the contrary, if you have been recharging a whole lot, then the amount you can borrow can be as high as N1000, N2000 or more.
How To Borrow Airtime On All Networks
Each network has their different USSD code used in borrowing Airtime. We will be listing them all.
MTN
⚫ You can borrow airtime by dialing * 606# or * 606*amount#
Airtel
⚫ You can borrow airtime by dialing * 500# or * 500*amount#
9mobile
⚫ You can borrow airtime by dialing * 665# or * 665*amount#
GLO
⚫ For GLO, you will first have to Setup a 4 digit pin by dialing * 321#. After setting up your 4 digits PIN then you can then Borrow Airtime by dialing * 321* your 4 digits PIN* amount#. E.g * 321*1234 *200#
Conclusion
Being able to borrow airtime have saved me countless times, and I’m grateful for this. Although the 10% service charge might be a problem for some people who might be thinking of Borrowing Airtime to me, it is a small price to pay for readily available Airtime.
This should be used as a last resort when all other methods of purchasing an Airtime have proven abortive.
