The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed reports suggesting it played a role in securing presidential approval for a major restructuring of Nigeria’s airtime credit market.
The clarification follows widespread media reports claiming that the Federal Government had approved the entry of nine additional operators into the airtime credit ecosystem as part of efforts to increase local participation and reduce dependence on foreign-linked service providers.
According to the commission, the claims linking the regulator to the reported market overhaul are inaccurate and do not reflect its involvement in any such initiative. The FCCPC stated that it neither initiated nor participated in the process described in the reports.
Industry discussions had centred on plans that would allegedly open the sector to several Nigerian technology and financial service firms, expanding participation beyond the telecommunications operators and existing partners that currently dominate the market. Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that the reports also associated the proposed changes with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda aimed at promoting indigenous business participation.
The companies mentioned in the reports included Technotrends Platforms Nigeria Limited, Total Tim Nigeria Limited, Fonyou Technologies Nigeria Limited, Rane Interactive Medien CLS Limited, MRS Innovation Nigeria Limited, Mode NG Applications Nigeria Limited, ERL Telecoms Service Limited, Cloud Interactive Associate Limited and Coverage Broadband Limited.
While some reports estimated the airtime credit market to be worth about ₦3 trillion annually, available industry assessments generally place the sector’s value significantly lower, within the range of several hundred billion naira.
The FCCPC also provided an update on the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations 2025, stressing that implementation of the framework remains suspended pending judicial proceedings.
The commission explained that the suspension followed an interim order issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos after legal action was filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN).
As a result, enforcement activities connected to the regulations have been paused while the court considers the substantive issues raised in the suit. The matter is scheduled to return before the court in July 2026.
The consumer protection regulator reiterated its commitment to complying fully with the legal process while continuing to pursue all lawful measures available within its regulatory mandate.
The development provides important clarification for stakeholders across Nigeria’s telecommunications, fintech and digital lending sectors, many of whom had been seeking certainty regarding the future structure of the airtime credit market and the status of ongoing regulatory reforms.
With the court process still underway and no official confirmation of the reported market changes from the FCCPC, existing regulatory arrangements remain in place pending further government or judicial action.
