The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have been called upon to address ongoing regulatory disagreements affecting Nigeria's airtime credit market, as reported by Daily Trust.
Court Orders and Regulatory Overlap
The appeal follows interim injunctions issued by Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja, which restrained interference in the operations of licensed Value Added Service (VAS) providers, including Nairtime Nigeria Limited and members of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPA).
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, attributed the situation to competing jurisdictional claims between the FCCPC and the NCC. He noted that the airtime credit market is estimated to be worth between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, underscoring its importance within Nigeria's telecom ecosystem.
Adebayo maintained that the NCC has the statutory mandate to regulate the telecommunications sector under the Nigerian Communications Act. He called for urgent intervention from relevant stakeholders, including regulators, telecom operators, and the federal government, to restore clarity and stability.
Impact on Businesses and Consumers
Adebayo said the situation goes beyond a regulatory disagreement, describing it as a test of the country's business environment. He noted that despite court orders and valid licences held by operators, the ongoing uncertainty continues to affect businesses and consumers.
The ALTON chairman added that the association had earlier communicated its concerns to the NCC in August 2025, warning that FCCPC regulations appeared to conflict with an existing Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies. According to him, the lack of alignment has contributed to the legal and commercial uncertainty currently affecting the market.
Effect on Small Enterprises
Adebayo emphasised that the implications extend beyond telecom operators, noting that airtime credit serves as an informal credit system for millions of Nigerians. He explained that traders, artisans, and small-scale entrepreneurs often rely on short-term airtime advances to sustain daily economic activities, particularly in the absence of accessible formal credit. He added that service disruptions are felt immediately by users who depend on it for financial flexibility.
Investor Confidence at Risk
Adebayo further warned that regulatory uncertainty could affect Nigeria's ability to attract investment into digital infrastructure. He noted that investors often assess how disputes are managed when making long-term decisions, adding that unclear regulatory boundaries may discourage capital inflows into the sector.
In a related development, the NCC has introduced a new Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) to tackle fraud associated with mobile numbers and improve digital security across sectors. According to the commission, the platform is designed to help regulators and service providers better monitor risks tied to SIM cards, especially as mobile numbers increasingly serve as key identifiers for financial transactions and digital services.
