Lagos: The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has commended the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for restoring airtime credit services across major networks. Mr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, highlighted the commission’s suspension of Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending regulations, which has provided a boost to regulatory certainty.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this decision has enabled the return of airtime and data credit services after weeks of disruption that affected about 40 million active subscribers nationwide. Adebayo stated that Airtel Nigeria has fully restored airtime credit services, while Globacom has also resumed operations, providing relief to millions of prepaid customers.
Adebayo described the FCCPC’s action as a critical step toward restoring confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory environment and strengthening investor confidence in the telecommunications sector. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the Nigerian Communications Commission as the sector’s primary regulator for industry stability and effective governance of telecom products and services.
He pointed out that the disruption highlighted the extent to which airtime credit had become embedded in the daily economic activities of millions of Nigerians. Adebayo noted that airtime credit should not be viewed solely as a financial product, as initially characterized by regulators, but as economic infrastructure relied upon by many, particularly within the lower-income segment.
The temporary suspension of the service had wide-reaching consequences beyond telecommunications, affecting communication, commerce, and access to essential services. The airtime credit market, valued at between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, was effectively frozen in early April following an FCCPC directive that classified airtime credit as consumer lending under regulations targeting digital lending applications.
Adebayo noted that this classification triggered a jurisdictional dispute between the FCCPC and the Nigerian Communications Commission over regulatory authority. Subsequent court orders in Lagos and Abuja restrained aspects of the enforcement process, eventually paving the way for service restoration.
He observed that Airtel’s prompt restoration of the service reflected confidence in the legal and commercial environment following regulatory clarification, with Globacom following shortly afterwards. However, MTN Nigeria had yet to restore its airtime credit service at the time of reporting. Industry sources indicate there are no regulatory or legal impediments preventing the restoration of the service by remaining operators.
Adebayo expressed optimism that full restoration is imminent and urged all operators to restore services swiftly, noting the urgency for subscribers following the prolonged disruption. He called for stronger collaboration between the FCCPC and the NCC to prevent similar regulatory conflicts in the future, suggesting the establishment of formal coordination mechanisms to address issues arising at the intersection of telecommunications and financial services.