FCCPC denies banning airtime borrowing, blames operators for service disruptions

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed reports claiming it banned or shut down airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria, describing the reports as false and misleading.

In a statement signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, the Commission said it never issued any directive stopping consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services.

According to the FCCPC, the confusion stems from enforcement of the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations introduced in July 2025 after widespread consumer complaints over hidden charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive debt recovery tactics, poor disclosure standards, and lack of accountability in parts of the digital lending and advance-services market.

The Commission said the regulations were designed to protect Nigerians by ensuring transparency, responsible lending practices, clear disclosure of fees and terms, effective complaint channels, data protection safeguards, and stronger regulatory oversight.

FCCPC also revealed that investigations in the telecom sector uncovered exclusionary third-party technical arrangements that violated provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.

It stated that operators were initially given a 90-day compliance window from July 2025 to regularise their products and operations, which was later extended to January 5, 2026. However, some operators allegedly failed to comply despite the extensions.

The Commission said any temporary suspension or restriction of airtime borrowing or data advance services should be seen as a business or compliance decision by the affected operators, not a ban imposed by the FCCPC.

“It is inaccurate to attribute avoidable disruption to regulation where regulated entities had adequate notice and sufficient opportunity to comply,” the statement said.