Court Orders MTN, Airtel to Reinstate Airtime Credit Services as Regulatory Dispute Deepens
A Federal High Court has directed Telecommunications giants MTN Nigeria and Airtel Networks Limited to immediately restore airtime and data credit services to subscribers, following a legal tussle triggered by new consumer lending regulations.
The court’s decision comes after the temporary suspension of the widely used services, which allow subscribers to borrow airtime and data during emergencies. The disruption, which affected millions of users across the Country, had sparked widespread concern, particularly among low-income earners who rely heavily on such credit facilities for daily communication.
Global Mirror News gathered that the ruling, delivered in separate proceedings in Abuja and Lagos, restrained the telecom operators from further suspending or interfering with airtime credit platforms pending the determination of substantive suits before the court.
The legal battle stems from the enforcement of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025. The regulation classifies airtime and data credit services as digital lending products, thereby subjecting them to stricter oversight.
In response to the regulatory directive, MTN and Airtel had earlier halted their credit services to ensure compliance, a move that immediately disrupted access for millions of prepaid subscribers nationwide.
However, service providers operating within the telecom ecosystem challenged the suspension, arguing that the action was unlawful and would severely impact their operations as well as consumers who depend on the service as a form of microcredit.
Global Mirror News further reports that the court granted an interim injunction maintaining the status quo, effectively ordering that all parties revert to pre-suspension conditions. The ruling also restrained regulatory enforcement actions linked to the new framework until the matter is fully heard and determined.
Industry stakeholders say the development highlights an ongoing jurisdictional conflict between the FCCPC and telecom regulators, particularly over who has the authority to oversee value-added services such as airtime lending.
The airtime credit system, which has grown into a multi-billion-naira segment of Nigeria’s telecom industry, plays a crucial role in bridging short-term financial gaps for millions of users, especially within the informal sector.
As proceedings continue, analysts expect the outcome of the case to set a significant precedent for the regulation of digital financial services within the telecommunications space.
The matter has been adjourned to a later date for further hearing.
