The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed claims that airtime borrowing and data advance services have been banned in Nigeria. In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said reports of a nationwide shutdown of such services were false and misleading. It clarified that it has not prohibited airtime or data loans, nor issued any directive restricting access to lawful telecom value-added services. The FCCPC explained that in July 2025, it introduced the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations following widespread consumer complaints about hidden charges, unauthorised deductions, aggressive recovery methods, and poor disclosure practices in digital lending and advance-service platforms. The regulations require service providers to register, disclose terms clearly, protect user data, and ensure accountability, especially for third-party partners. Investigations revealed some telecom operators engaged in anti-competitive technical arrangements violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act. These operators were given a 90-day compliance window starting July 2025, later extended to January 5, 2026. Some failed to meet the requirements, leading to temporary suspensions or restrictions by the operators themselves. The FCCPC emphasized that such actions are business decisions, not regulatory bans, and warned against spreading misinformation.
The FCCPC says it didn't ban airtime loans, yet its own compliance deadline of January 5, 2026, triggered service disruptions that mimic a de facto restriction. Nigerians relying on MTN, Airtel, or Glo's data advance services now face uncertainty because their providers failed to meet a regulatory deadline the Commission publicly set. This gap between official denial and operational consequence leaves consumers penalised for providers' non-compliance. The confusion benefits no one, especially users already burdened by opaque charges and service cuts.
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