The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has denied reports that it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services across Nigeria, calling the story false and blaming “vested interests” for spreading it.
In a statement issued on Friday, April 17, 2026, the FCCPC said it did not order a stop to the services. Instead, it blamed telecom companies that failed to follow new consumer protection rules meant to stop unfair lending practices.
The Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the problem started with the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations introduced in July 2025. The rules came after many complaints from customers about hidden charges, harsh debt collection, poor explanation of terms, and lack of accountability by third-party service providers. He said the regulations were made to check abusive service providers and make sure digital lending is open and fair.
Telecom operators were first given 90 days in 2025 to update their products and comply with the law. The deadline was later moved to January 5, 2026 to give them more time. Despite the extension, the FCCPC said some operators kept running “monopolistic models” and did not finish the required registration.
“Any temporary suspension, restriction, or change in service should be seen as a business or compliance decision by those operators, not a ban from the FCCPC,” the statement said.
The Commission added that the DEON rules are also meant to end exclusive deals between big operators and foreign partners. By requiring proper registration, the FCCPC hopes to open the market so local companies can compete fairly.
It asked Nigerians to ignore “sensational claims” and “mischievous” stories, saying the public deserves correct information about their consumer rights.
The FCCPC said it will keep working with other regulators to ensure digital financial services remain transparent, innovative, and respectful of Nigerian consumers.
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