Court rejects FCCPC’s fresh bid to halt airtime lending
A Federal High Court has rejected a fresh attempt by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to stop airtime lending services run through major telecom networks. The ruling preserves an earlier interim injunction that protects airtime and data credit providers while a substantive suit on new lending rules is being heard. The case centres on the FCCPC’s 2025 Digital, Electronic, Online or Non Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, which the commission wants to fully enforce across digital lenders, including Airtime Credit Service providers. Industry group Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria argues that the rules place heavy and conflicting burdens on telecom based lending services already regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission. In its latest application, the FCCPC asked the court to lift or vary the injunction so it could proceed with implementation of the new regime. Justice Lewis […]