Telecommunications users across Nigeria have started accessing emergency airtime again after major operators quietly reactivated airtime lending services.
The development follows a court order that temporarily stopped the enforcement of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations 2025.
Operators including Airtel and Glo restored the services after the legal intervention, bringing back a feature widely used by millions of subscribers for urgent communication and small daily transactions.
The services had earlier been affected by regulatory tensions between the telecom sector and the consumer protection agency.
The suspension came after the Federal High Court in Lagos reportedly ordered that the implementation of the DEON framework be put on hold, pending the hearing of a suit challenging the FCCPC’s authority over airtime-based credit services. The ruling has also triggered fresh legal exchanges, including contempt proceedings linked to top officials of the Commission.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), Ayo Stuffman, confirmed that the platforms were back online. He stated, “As we speak, the services in question are already active on Airtel and Glo,” signaling the immediate restoration of the borrowing feature.
The return of airtime lending has been received with relief among users, especially traders, transport workers, and low-income earners who rely on the service for quick connectivity. Industry estimates suggest the airtime credit market is worth over ₦400 billion annually, making it a significant part of Nigeria’s telecom ecosystem.
The FCCPC had introduced the DEON Regulations 2025 to bring digital lending services under a formal regulatory structure. The Commission argued that airtime credit falls under consumer lending and must comply with rules designed to protect users from abuse, data misuse, and unfair charges. It also claimed it had received over 11,000 complaints linked to digital lending platforms.
However, telecom stakeholders strongly opposed the move. Industry groups, including operators and service providers, insisted that airtime advances are value-added telecom services and not traditional loans. They argued that the regulatory approach could disrupt services and overstep existing telecom frameworks.
The dispute escalated when Justice A. Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos issued an interim order restraining the FCCPC from enforcing the regulations. Reports also indicate that Form 49 contempt proceedings were initiated in relation to the case involving the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello.
In response, the FCCPC through its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, confirmed compliance with the court directive. He stated, “As a law-abiding institution, the Commission, in deference and in obedience to the rule of law, hereby suspends the implementation and the enforcement of the DEON Regulations 2025.”
Despite suspending enforcement, the Commission maintained that it would continue to challenge the ruling, insisting its legal team would pursue a review of the court order and the validity of the suit filed against it.
Meanwhile, operators and stakeholders in the telecom sector say the temporary return of airtime borrowing has restored calm, but warned that the uncertainty surrounding the regulatory framework could affect investor confidence.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, had earlier stressed the need for clear and predictable regulation in the sector, noting that overlapping rules could create instability for operators.
For now, subscribers across networks can once again borrow airtime in moments of need. However, the final decision from the court is expected to determine whether the service remains fully within telecom control or shifts under stricter financial regulation.
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