By our Reporter
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed reports claiming it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria, describing such assertions as false and misleading.
In a statement, the Commission said it did not issue any directive prohibiting the services or restricting consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added offerings. It noted that the viral claims circulating in some media reports and on social media were inaccurate and intended to misinform the public.
The FCCPC explained that its intervention in the sector followed a surge in consumer complaints, including issues of opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery practices, and poor disclosure standards among some service providers.
To address these concerns, the Commission said it introduced the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations in July 2025 to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible lending practices within the digital lending and advance-services market.
According to the Commission, the regulations require proper registration of operators, clear disclosure of fees and terms, improved consumer complaint channels, data protection safeguards, and enhanced oversight of third-party partners.
The FCCPC also revealed that investigations in the telecom sector uncovered exclusionary arrangements by some operators, which it said contravened provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018. The regulations, it added, were designed to open up the market to fair competition and encourage participation by local players.
The Commission stated that affected operators were initially given a 90-day compliance window from July 2025, which was later extended to January 5, 2026. However, it noted that some operators failed to regularise their operations within the stipulated period.
It clarified that any temporary suspension or changes in airtime borrowing or data advance services should be seen as business or compliance decisions by the operators, not a ban imposed by the regulator.
The FCCPC accused certain vested interests of spreading disinformation to undermine efforts at creating a fair and transparent market, urging Nigerians to disregard misleading narratives.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumers, promoting competition, and ensuring accountability across all sectors.
