By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
CLAIMS OF a ban on airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria have been dismissed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which described the reports as false and misleading.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the Commission, in a statement issued on Friday, stated that it did not direct any shutdown of telecom-based credit services and affirmed that Nigerians can continue to access lawful value-added services provided by operators.
FCCPC’s clarification followed announcements by telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria and Airtel, on the temporary suspension of their airtime and data lending services, which triggered public concern and speculation of regulatory action.
It also stated that the disruptions did not arise from any ban but were linked to the failure of some telecom operators to comply with its Consumer Lending Regulations (CLR) introduced in July 2025.
The Commission further explained that the regulations were introduced to address increasing consumer complaints over practices in the digital lending space, including hidden charges, poor disclosure and aggressive recovery methods.
It noted that operators were initially given a 90-day window to comply with the framework, which was later extended to January 5, 2026, but several companies did not meet the requirements.
“Any suspension or restriction of services should be regarded as a compliance decision by the operators rather than a government-imposed action,” FCCPC stated.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the Commission also accused certain vested interests of spreading misinformation to undermine the regulatory reforms and urged Nigerians to disregard sensational claims and rely on verified information.
Noting that the framework is designed to promote transparency, FCCPC insists on accountability and fair competition while encouraging responsible innovation in the telecom and digital lending sectors.
It also maintained that compliance with the regulations is mandatory for all service providers as part of efforts to sanitise the market and strengthen consumer confidence.
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