The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has resumed the implementation and enforcement of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 (DEON), following a Federal High Court judgment affirming the legality of the framework.
The commission disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the court ruling had removed all legal obstacles that previously stalled the enforcement of the regulations.
The DEON regulations, introduced in September 2025 under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of digital lenders operating in Nigeria.
The framework covers registration requirements, transparency, ethical loan recovery practices, data privacy protection and responsible lending standards.
Under the regulations, digital lenders are required to register with the FCCPC, comply with consumer protection standards, maintain transparent lending practices, safeguard borrowers’ data and refrain from abusive debt recovery methods.
The commission had earlier fixed January 5, 2026, as the deadline for full compliance with the regulations.
However, enforcement was suspended in April after the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN) obtained an interim order from the Federal High Court challenging the FCCPC’s authority to implement the framework.
In its latest judgment, Justice A. L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed the suit filed by WASPAN and rejected all the reliefs sought by the association.
According to the FCCPC, the court ruled that the regulations were issued pursuant to the commission’s statutory and constitutional powers and subsequently vacated the interim ex parte order that had restrained implementation.
The commission said the judgment effectively restored the full operation and enforceability of the DEON regulations.
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Reacting to the ruling, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the commission’s decision to suspend implementation earlier this year was in obedience to the court order and underscored its commitment to the rule of law.
“The Commission has always maintained that the rule of law is fundamental to effective regulation and good governance,” Ijagwu said.
“When the Court issued its interim order, we immediately suspended implementation of the Regulations in full compliance with the Court’s directive.
Now that the Court has affirmed the validity of the DEON Regulations and delivered judgment in favour of the Commission, we will continue to discharge our statutory responsibilities faithfully, professionally and in accordance with the law.”
He added that the commission’s objective remains the promotion of innovation and financial inclusion within a transparent and accountable regulatory framework that protects consumers while encouraging responsible operators and investors.
Ijagwu further noted that the regulations are designed to promote responsible lending, strengthen regulatory accountability, curb exploitative practices and enhance consumer protection in Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital lending market.
The ruling is expected to reinforce oversight of online lenders and boost confidence in the country’s digital credit ecosystem amid rising concerns over unethical lending and debt recovery practices.
