FCCPC denies banning airtime borrowing, data advances

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed viral social media claims and newspaper reports suggesting it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria.

In a Friday statement by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, the FCCPC clarified, “The Commission has not prohibited airtime borrowing or data advance services, and no directive was issued preventing consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services.”

The agency introduced the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations in July 2025 to address “opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery practices” and promote transparency, fair competition, and consumer protection.

FCCPC noted that operators had a 90-day compliance window, extended to January 5, 2026, but some failed to register or adjust monopolistic models. Any service disruptions are “a business or compliance decision by those operators, not a ban imposed by the FCCPC.”

The commission urged the public to ignore “false and misleading narratives,” reaffirming its commitment to “protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and encouraging responsible innovation.”