By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed reports claiming it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria, describing such claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, clarified that no directive had been issued to restrict consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services.
Ijagwu said the reports circulating in sections of the media were incorrect and misrepresented the Commission’s regulatory actions.
He explained that the FCCPC introduced the Digital Economy and Online Platforms (DEON) Consumer Lending Regulations in July 2025 following widespread consumer complaints about opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery practices, poor disclosure standards, and lack of accountability in parts of the digital lending and advance-services market.
According to him, the regulations were designed to curb exploitative practices and restore consumer confidence by enforcing proper registration of service providers, responsible lending behaviour, and full disclosure of fees and terms.
He added that the framework also mandates accessible complaint channels, data protection safeguards, and stronger accountability for third-party partners.
Ijagwu further disclosed that investigations in the telecommunications sector revealed that some operators engaged in exclusionary arrangements that contravene provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
He said the regulations aim to open up the market to more participants, including local players, while promoting fair competition and innovation.
“These measures benefit Nigerians by reducing abusive practices, improving transparency, strengthening consumer choice, and encouraging responsible innovation by legitimate operators,” he said.
The FCCPC spokesperson also alleged that some vested interests and foreign collaborators opposed to market reforms were behind the spread of misinformation.
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He noted that affected operators were initially given a 90-day compliance window from July 2025, which was later extended to January 5, but many failed to meet the requirements, particularly in the telecom sector.
Ijagwu urged the public to disregard misleading narratives, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to consumer protection, fair competition, and transparent digital financial practices.
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