| By: Francis Onyemachi
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has the legal authority to regulate airtime and data credit services, while restricting the commission from issuing licences to telecommunications operators.
The commission, in a statement on Monday, said the decision followed a judgment delivered by Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/760/2026, filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (WASPAN).
According to the FCCPC, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s originating summons, rejected all the reliefs sought and upheld the validity of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations, 2025.
The commission said the court held that the regulations were made pursuant to its statutory and constitutional powers and were therefore within its legal authority.
The statement added that the court also upheld the specific provisions of the regulations challenged in the suit and discharged the interim ex parte order that had restrained their implementation and enforcement.
“As a result, the legal impediment that had necessitated the Commission’s temporary suspension of implementation and enforcement of the DEON Regulations has been removed, and the Regulations are once again fully operational and enforceable,” the statement reads.
Recall that WASPAN had challenged its authority to issue and implement the regulations.
The commission following the court’s interim order in April immediately suspended implementation and enforcement of the regulations in compliance with the directive, pending the determination of the suit.
The FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu said the commission would continue to carry out its regulatory responsibilities in line with the law.
He said:
“The Commission has always maintained that the rule of law is fundamental to effective regulation and good governance. When the Court issued its interim order, we immediately suspended implementation of the Regulations in full compliance with the Court’s directive.
“Now that the Court has affirmed the validity of the DEON Regulations and delivered judgment in favour of the Commission, we will continue to discharge our statutory responsibilities faithfully, professionally and in accordance with the law,” Ijagwu said
The director explained that the regulations are intended to promote responsible lending, strengthen regulatory accountability, curb unfair and exploitative practices, and improve consumer protection in Nigeria’s growing digital lending market.
In his words, the commission’s objective is to ensure that innovation and financial inclusion thrive within a transparent, fair and accountable regulatory framework that inspires confidence among consumers, investors and responsible operators.
