Amid confusion sparked by viral social media posts and reports, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has clarified that it has not banned airtime borrowing or data advance services in Nigeria.
The Commission described the reports as false and misleading, stressing that consumers can still access lawful telecom value-added services.
In a statement issued on Friday via its official X handle, the FCCPC said it has not issued any directive prohibiting airtime borrowing or data advance services.
“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,” it said.
The FCCPC explained that the misunderstanding followed regulatory measures introduced in July 2025 under the Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional (DEON) Consumer Lending Regulations.
It said the framework was developed in response to rising consumer complaints, including opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive debt recovery practices, poor disclosure of terms, and weak accountability in parts of the digital lending and advance-services sector.
Rather than banning services, the regulations are aimed at improving transparency and fairness by requiring operators to register properly, clearly disclose fees and terms, adopt responsible lending practices, and provide accessible complaint channels for consumers.
The Commission added that the reforms are also designed to strengthen consumer protection, improve service quality, and restore confidence in the digital financial services market.
It further disclosed that some telecom operators had engaged in exclusionary third-party arrangements in breach of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, thereby limiting competition within the sector.
According to the FCCPC, the new framework is intended to open up the market to both local and international participants in line with free market principles.
“The primary aim is to promote a fairer and more transparent system by mandating proper registration, responsible lending conduct, clear disclosure of fees and terms, accessible consumer complaint channels, data protection safeguards, stronger accountability for third-party partners, and effective regulatory oversight,” it stated.
The Commission noted that operators were initially given a 90-day compliance window, later extended to January 5, 2026, to align with the new requirements.
However, it said some operators failed to comply within the extended timeline and continued operating models that had generated repeated consumer complaints.
The FCCPC emphasised that any temporary suspension or restriction of airtime borrowing or data advance services should be attributed to operators’ business or compliance decisions, not regulatory bans.
It added that attributing such disruptions to the Commission was misleading, particularly where operators had sufficient time to regularise their operations.
The agency also warned against what it described as deliberate misinformation by vested interests seeking to undermine reforms aimed at ensuring a fair and transparent market.
It urged Nigerians to disregard false narratives and rely on verified information regarding telecom services.
