Court Orders MTN and Airtel to Restore Airtime Lending Services Amid Regulatory Dispute
Court Orders MTN and Airtel to Restore Airtime Lending Services Amid Regulatory Dispute
The ruling restrains the enforcement of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) Consumer Lending Regulations, which had previously triggered the suspension of airtime borrowing services across major telecom networks.
The court also issued interim injunctions preventing telecom operators from blocking or restricting access to services provided by licensed Value Added Service (VAS) providers while the substantive case is still being determined.
The dispute stems from regulatory changes introduced by the FCCPC in 2025, which extended oversight to digital credit services, including airtime and data lending. The move sparked objections from industry stakeholders, who argued that such services fall under the regulatory authority of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), creating a jurisdictional conflict.
Airtime lending services such as “XtraTime” and similar offerings were suspended in April, affecting millions of prepaid subscribers who rely on them for emergency communication and data access.
However, the court’s interim order now restores the services pending the final determination of the case, effectively maintaining the status quo and preventing further disruption in the telecommunications sector.
Industry observers say the ruling provides temporary relief for consumers while highlighting ongoing regulatory tensions between key government agencies overseeing Nigeria’s digital economy.
