FCCPC Clarifies: Airtime Borrowing and Data Advance Services Not Banned

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has denied claims that it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria. It described those reports as false and misleading. The denial follows newspaper stories and viral social media posts blaming the commission for disruptions in telecom value-added services. FCCPC stressed that it never issued any directive to stop consumers from accessing lawful lend-back services. The Digital Economy and Online Consumer Lending Regulations introduced in July 2025 aim to address opaque charges, unexplained deductions and aggressive recovery methods. They require proper registration, clear fee disclosures, accessible complaint channels and stronger third-party oversight. Operators were given a compliance window until January 5, 2026, but some failed to meet the deadline. FCCPC urged Nigerians to ignore false narratives and reaffirmed its commitment to fair competition and transparent digital financial practices.

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