For millions of Nigerians, borrowing airtime or data when their balance runs low has become a normal part of daily life.

Behind this massive business is billionaire entrepreneur Bassim Haidar, the founder of Optasia, a global technology company that has played a major role in Nigeria’s airtime and data lending market for more than a decade.

Through partnerships with major telecommunications operators, Optasia’s technology enabled subscribers to access airtime and data advances instantly, with repayments deducted from future recharges. The service grew rapidly and became a lifeline for millions of users across the country.

Industry reports estimate that Nigeria’s airtime lending market is worth hundreds of billions of naira annually, with tens of millions of subscribers relying on the service. The sector has become one of the most lucrative segments of the country’s digital economy.

However, the industry has recently come under intense scrutiny following regulatory reforms aimed at opening the market to more operators. The Federal Government and regulators have approved additional companies to participate in airtime and data lending services, a move expected to increase competition and reduce dependence on a single dominant provider.

The reforms have sparked widespread debate among industry stakeholders, with supporters arguing that greater competition will encourage innovation and local participation, while others warn that regulatory uncertainty could disrupt services relied upon by millions

As the battle for control of Nigeria’s airtime lending market continues, Bassim Haidar remains one of the most influential figures associated with the sector, having helped build a business model that transformed how Nigerians access emergency airtime and data