Nigeria FCCPC Denies Airtime Ban

The Nigeria — Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in Nigeria has denied reports that it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services, clarifying that such claims are false and misleading. The FCCPC stated that it introduced the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations in July 2025 to address consumer complaints regarding opaque charges, aggressive debt recovery, and lack of accountability in the digital lending and advance-services market. These regulations aim to promote a fairer and more transparent system by mandating proper registration, responsible lending practices, and clear disclosure of terms. The FCCPC noted that some telecom operators engaged in exclusionary third-party technical arrangements contrary to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and failed to comply with extended deadlines for regularization. Any service disruptions are attributed to operators' business or compliance decisions, not a ban by the FCCPC. The commission, through its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, urged Nigerians to disregard false narratives, reaffirming its commitment to consumer protection and fair competition.