Sharing airtime within the same network is an important subscriber activity in Nigeria’s telecommunication space. Nigeria is a low-income nation, with the majority of its citizens living below the poverty line; hence, the rampant cost-saving measures and budget living amongst its citizens.
When a friend or family member requests airtime, and the person in question is not buoyant or disposed to buy airtime for the person asking. There is always the option to share Airtime from an existing balance with a network user instantly.
This method is fast, efficient, and budget-friendly, helping grow the bond between users on the same network. Airtime sharing rarely works across networks for obvious reasons. The most common airtime-sharing pairs are MTN to MTN, Airtel to Airtel, T2 Mobile to T2 Mobile, and Glo to Glo.
These are the most common types of Airtime sharing used by Nigerians. These Telcos also facilitate data sharing in the same way, and this is by far the most widely used feature across all networks.
In this article, we will look at how to share Airtime on Airtel in 2026, the codes to use, and the precautions to take to ensure a smooth airtime-sharing experience.
How to Share Airtime on Airtel in 2026
The Airtel Airtime sharing feature is called the Airtel (Me2U) program, and it can be done via USSD and the mobile app. To ensure your security, you must first change the default PIN before you can make your first transfer.
Here is a step-by-step guide to sharing airtime on Airtel via USSD and the mobile app.
Step 1: Change Your Default PIN
The default PIN for all Airtel lines is 1234. You must change this to a unique 4-digit number of your choice.
- The Code: Dial
*321#. - Select PIN Management.
- Select Change PIN.
- Enter the old PIN (1234) and then enter your New PIN twice to confirm.
- Expressely you can dial
*432*1234*NewPIN#
Step 2: Share the Airtime
Once your PIN is set, you can use either the direct code or the menu system.
Method A: The Direct USSD Code
Dial the following string on your phone: *432*RecipientNumber*Amount*PIN#
Example: To send ₦500 to 08021234567 with a PIN of 5566, you would dial: *432*08021234567*500*5566#
Method B: The Interactive Menu
- Dial
*321#. - Select Airtel to Airtel.
- Enter the Recipient’s Number.
- Enter the Amount.
- Enter your PIN and press Send.
Method C: Using the MyAirtel App
- Open the MyAirtel App.
- Tap on Quick Actions or View All.
- Select ME2U – Share Airtime.
- Enter the recipient’s details and your PIN to complete the transaction
Airtime Sharing Code for Other Networks
The remaining networks of Glo, MTN and T2 also allow network sharing, and this is reflected in their subsequent codes.
| Network | Transfer Code (USSD) | Default Pin | Pin Change Code |
| MTN | *321*Recipient*Amount*PIN# | 0000 | *321*DefaultPIN*NewPIN*NewPIN# |
| 9mobile | *223*PIN*Amount*Recipient# | 0000 | *247*DefaultPIN*NewPIN# |
| Glo | *131*Recipient*Amount*PIN# | 0000 | *132*DefaultPIN*NewPIN*NewPIN# |
Transfer of airtime across networks is largely difficult due to technical complexities and different tarrif plants of the networks. The transfer of airtime and data are the two commonly used feature across all networks.
