The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has applauded the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for suspending enforcement of its digital lending regulations against telecommunications companies.
The regulatory pause has paved the way for the restoration of airtime and data lending services, a critical baseline infrastructure enjoyed by over 40 million Nigerians.
In an official statement, ALTON Chairman Engr. Gbenga Adebayo described the commission’s decision as a mature move that properly recognizes the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as the primary regulator of the telecommunications industry.
Mr. Adebayo’s comments address intense concerns raised by industry stakeholders and experts over a clash of regulatory provisions, with many calling for clear boundaries regarding oversight in the sector.
The controversy stems from the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) framework. Critics flagged the policy as an unsuitable fit for the standard airtime and data borrowing services provided by mobile networks, arguing that the rules shouldn’t bind telecommunications infrastructure.
According to ALTON, establishing clear jurisdictional lines is vital for the health of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“Suspending the DEON regulations as they apply to telecom services recognizes that the established regulatory architecture, with the NCC as the sector’s primary regulator, is the appropriate framework for governing these products,” Adebayo stated, emphasizing that this clarity matters enormously for industry stability and investor confidence.
The regulatory reversal comes roughly five weeks after major telcos froze their credit advance services. Telecom operators had suspended the offerings to create an operational window to ensure full compliance with the strict DEON framework.
With the enforcement halted, major networks are bringing their services back online: Airtel and Globacom have successfully restored their airtime and data advance services to consumers.
Subscribers on MTN & T2mobile (formerly 9mobile) can expect the resumption of the popular “XtraTime” credit services shortly, as both telcos finalize technical preparations to reactivate the platforms.
By walking back the application of the DEON rule on telcos, the FCCPC has mitigated widespread consumer disruption, allowing millions of Nigerians, particularly those in lower-income segments, to regain seamless access to emergency communication credit.
To better understand how this regulatory shift impacts subscribers and why these changes were originally put in place, you can watch this breakdown on the FCCPC Airtime Lending Rules Impact. This video explores the initial suspension of emergency credit services by mobile operators and details the introduction of alternative digital lending entities into the market.