By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed widespread claims that it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria, describing the reports as false and part of a deliberate misinformation campaign by vested interests.
The Commission said it neither cancelled nor prohibited such telecom value-added services, stressing that consumers remain free to access lawful airtime borrowing and data advance products offered by service providers.
In a statement issued by the Director of Corporate Affairs of the FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission clarified that no directive was issued preventing Nigerians from using airtime advance or similar services.
According to the Commission, the misleading reports emerged from newspaper publications and a viral anonymous social media post which sought to create the impression that the regulator had shut down airtime borrowing and data advance services.
Ijagwu explained that the regulatory intervention in question relates to the Commission’s Digital Economy and Online Lending (DEON) Consumer Lending Regulations introduced in July 2025 to address widespread consumer complaints in the digital lending and advance-services market.
He noted that the regulations followed a surge in complaints from consumers regarding opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery practices, poor disclosure standards and weak accountability mechanisms among some operators.
“The Commission has not prohibited airtime borrowing or data advance services, and no directive was issued preventing consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services,” the statement said.
The FCCPC explained that the regulations were designed to promote transparency, accountability and fairness in the digital lending ecosystem by requiring proper registration of operators, responsible lending conduct, clear disclosure of charges and terms, accessible complaint channels, data protection safeguards and stronger oversight of third-party partners.
The Commission also disclosed that its findings showed that some operators in the telecommunications sector had entered exclusionary third-party technical arrangements that contravened provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
According to the FCCPC, the new framework was also intended to open up the market to greater participation by local players alongside foreign partners in line with free-market principles.
“These measures benefit Nigerians by reducing abusive practices, improving transparency, strengthening consumer choice and encouraging responsible innovation by legitimate operators,” the statement said.
The Commission accused certain vested interests and their foreign collaborators of resisting reforms aimed at ensuring safe markets and fair competition, noting that such actors had resorted to spreading disinformation to undermine the regulatory process.
FCCPC further explained that when the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations took effect in July 2025, affected operators were granted a 90-day compliance window to regularise their services and operational structures.
The compliance period was later extended to January 5, 2026 to give operators additional time to align with regulatory requirements.
However, the Commission noted that some service providers failed to utilise the opportunity and continued to operate business models that had long generated consumer complaints relating to transparency, charges, deductions and accountability.
The FCCPC emphasised that any temporary suspension, restriction or operational changes introduced by telecom operators should be viewed as business or compliance decisions taken by the companies themselves, rather than a regulatory ban imposed by the Commission.
“It is inaccurate to attribute avoidable disruption to regulation where regulated entities had adequate notice and sufficient opportunity to comply,” the statement added.
The Commission urged Nigerians to disregard misleading claims linking temporary service disruptions to government regulation, stressing that consumers deserve accurate information rather than sensational narratives.
Reaffirming its mandate, the FCCPC said it remains committed to protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, encouraging responsible innovation and ensuring transparent digital financial practices while working with sector regulators and service providers in the public interest.
