The situation had earlier left subscribers stranded after major telecom operators — MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria — suspended popular airtime credit services such as XtraTime and data borrowing features, following compliance concerns tied to new digital lending regulations.
But in a fresh twist, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, ordered that telecom operators must not suspend or interfere with services provided to Nairtime Nigeria Limited while a substantive case is still ongoing.
The court’s interim decision came after Nairtime Holdings Limited and Nairtime Nigeria Limited approached the judiciary, claiming that their operations were being threatened under the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025.
They argued that any disruption to their access to telecom platforms — including USSD codes, SMS channels, short codes, and billing systems — would severely damage their business and violate existing contractual rights.
The court agreed to maintain the status quo, stressing that licensed service providers must continue operations while the case is properly determined.
In a similar ruling in Lagos, the Federal High Court also stepped in to restrain enforcement actions tied to the same regulations. The case, involving the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria, saw the court block further implementation of certain regulatory provisions pending full hearing.
The judge in Lagos ruled that regulators should not enforce or implement parts of the 2025 lending framework in a way that could disrupt service providers’ operations.
The crisis began in mid-April when airtime credit services were suddenly suspended, leaving millions of Nigerians unable to borrow airtime or data — a lifeline many depend on for daily communication and small business activities.
The suspension followed regulatory pressure linked to the 2025 digital lending framework introduced by the FCCPC, which expanded oversight to cover airtime and data credit services. Compliance deadlines had been extended twice before enforcement actions eventually triggered the shutdown.
However, telecom stakeholders argue that the services fall under the regulatory authority of the Nigerian Communications Commission under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, not the FCCPC, raising a major jurisdictional dispute.
Industry estimates suggest airtime lending alone is worth between ₦500 billion and ₦1.2 trillion annually, serving millions of Nigerians in the informal sector who rely on it as a form of emergency microcredit.
While the FCCPC insists it never ordered a ban and claims operators made commercial decisions to suspend services, industry players say the regulatory confusion caused unnecessary disruption.
For now, both cases have been adjourned, with courts expected to continue hearing arguments as Nigerians await full restoration of services that have become part of everyday survival.
