Telecommunications subscribers across Nigeria can once again access emergency airtime lending services after major operators Airtel and Globacom restored the platforms following the suspension of the controversial Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations 2025.
The restoration comes after mounting legal pressure on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which had attempted to regulate telecom-based airtime lending under the new framework.
Chairman of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), Ayo Stuffman, confirmed on Monday that the services had resumed operations on both networks.
“As we speak, the services in question are already active on Airtel and Glo,” he said.
The return of the services has brought relief to millions of subscribers who rely on emergency airtime credit for communication and small business activities.
Industry estimates place Nigeria’s annual airtime lending market at more than ₦400 billion.
The FCCPC had earlier introduced the DEON Regulations 2025, arguing that airtime lending platforms should be treated as digital consumer credit services requiring stricter oversight to protect users from alleged abuses such as data privacy breaches and unfair lending practices.
According to the Commission, more than 11,000 consumer complaints had been linked to digital lending operations.
However, the move faced strong resistance from telecom stakeholders, including WASPAN and operators who argued that airtime advances are value-added telecom services rather than conventional loans.
The legal battle intensified after Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos restrained the FCCPC from enforcing the regulations pending the outcome of a suit challenging the Commission’s authority over telecom airtime advances.
Reports also indicated that Form 49 contempt proceedings were initiated against FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman Tunji Bello.
In a statement issued on Friday, FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs Ondaje Ijagwu said the Commission suspended implementation of the regulations in compliance with the court order.
“As a law-abiding institution, the Commission, in deference and in obedience to the rule of law, hereby suspends the implementation and the enforcement of the DEON Regulations 2025,” the statement read.
Despite the suspension, the FCCPC signalled plans to challenge the ruling, stating that its legal team would contest both the court order and the competence of the suit filed against the Commission.
Industry stakeholders say the development has temporarily eased tensions within the telecom sector, although concerns remain about long-term regulatory clarity and investor confidence.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, had earlier stressed the need for clearer regulatory boundaries and greater predictability within the industry.
