Airtime Borrowing Returns: Airtel and Glo Restore Services as Court Halts FCCPC Regulations

Nigerian telecommunications subscribers can finally breathe a sigh of relief as major network operators, Airtel and Glo, have reinstated emergency airtime lending services. This resumption follows the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) decision to suspend the controversial Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations 2025.

The regulatory backtrack comes on the heels of an order from a Federal High Court in Lagos. The court temporarily barred the FCCPC from enforcing the new guidelines pending the resolution of a lawsuit that challenges the commission’s jurisdiction over telecom-based airtime advances.

Ayo Stuffman, Chairman of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), confirmed the resumption on Monday. “As we speak, the services in question are already active on Airtel and Glo,” he stated. The return of these platforms is a significant win for millions of Nigerians who rely on emergency credit for daily communication and running small businesses—a sector with an estimated annual value exceeding ?400 billion.

The friction between the regulator and the telecoms sector began when the FCCPC attempted to classify airtime lending as digital consumer credit under the DEON Regulations 2025. Citing over 11,000 consumer complaints, the Commission argued that stringent oversight was necessary to curb data privacy breaches and unfair lending practices.

Conversely, telecom stakeholders—spearheaded by WASPAN and network operators—maintained that airtime advances are simply value-added services (VAS) and should not be treated as traditional consumer loans.

The disagreement culminated in a fierce legal battle. Following a restraining order issued by Justice A. Allagoa, reports emerged that contempt proceedings were initiated against the FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello. Bowing to the legal pressure, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, announced on Friday that the commission would pause the implementation of the regulations

“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,” Ijagwu said in a statement.

However, the truce may be temporary. The FCCPC has signaled its intention to fight back, stating it will challenge both the court injunction and the legitimacy of the lawsuit.

While emergency credit lines are open for now, the ongoing legal drama has sparked concerns among industry leaders. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), recently highlighted the need for regulatory predictability. Industry observers echo this sentiment, warning that prolonged uncertainty over who controls Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital credit ecosystem could ultimately threaten investor confidence and sector stability.