The court in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, answered the prayers by Nairtime Nigeria Limited pending the determination of a substantive suit challenging regulatory actions linked to digital lending operations.

The interim order, contained in a Certified True Copy obtained on Tuesday, followed an ex parte application filed by Nairtime Holdings Limited and Nairtime Nigeria Limited, which approached the court over what they described as a threatened disruption of their business operations by the telecom operators.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, the plaintiffs argued that the defendants intended to suspend, discontinue, or otherwise interfere with their access to telecommunications platforms, including USSD channels, SMS, short codes, and billing services.

They contended that the planned action was based on directives allegedly arising from the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025.

The plaintiffs maintained that such actions would constitute unlawful interference with their contractual rights and business operations, noting that they are licensed Value Added Service providers operating under valid approvals issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

They further asserted that they had complied with all contractual obligations and that no valid notice of breach had been issued by the defendants.

Ruling on the motion, the court granted an order of “Interim Injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants/Respondents, whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents, or privies, from suspending, restricting, discontinuing, or otherwise interfering with the access of the 2nd Plaintiff to their platforms, channels, short codes, SMS, USSD, billing services and other telecommunications-enabled services and operations during the subsistence of the 2nd Plaintiff’s valid licence issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission under and by virtue of the Nigerian Communications Act on the basis of the DEON Regulations issued by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The court further held that telecom operators could not set aside agreed contractual notice periods and dispute-resolution mechanisms in a bid to comply with new regulatory directives.

The order specifically covers access to platforms, channels, short codes, SMS, USSD services, and other telecommunications-enabled operations utilised by Nairtime Nigeria Limited in delivering its airtime advance and digital lending services.

The court directed that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the substantive suit, noting the subsistence of a valid licence held by the second plaintiff.

In line with its consumer-centric approach to telecoms regulation, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed mobile network operators (MNOs) to commence implementation of approved harmonised short codes (HSC) for providing certain services to telecom consumers in Nigeria.

The Commission has already set a deadline of May 17, 2023, for all mobile networks to fully migrate from hitherto diverse short codes to the harmonised codes.

The use of harmonised short codes is aimed at achieving uniformity in common short codes across networks. This means that the code for checking airtime balance is the same across all mobile networks for the same function, irrespective of the network a consumer uses.

According to a press statement signed by Reuben Muoka, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, with the new codes, the telecom consumers using the over 226 million active mobile lines in the country, can now use the same codes to access services across the networks.

Consequently, under the new harmonised short codes regime, 13 common short codes have been approved by the Commission.

They include the following codes: 300 to be used as the harmonised code for Call Centre/Help Desk on all mobile networks; 301 for voice Mail Deposit; 302 for Voice Mail Retrieval; 303 for Borrow Services; 305 for STOP Service; 310 for Check Balance, and 311 for Credit Recharge.

Also, the common code for Data Plan across networks is now 312. In line with the new direction, 321 is for Share Services, while 323 is for Data Plan Balance. The code, 996, is now for Verification of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration/NIN-SIM Linkage. The code, 2442, is retained for Do-Not-Disturb (DND) unsolicited messaging complaint management, while the common code, 3232, is also retained for Porting Services, otherwise called Mobile Number Portability.

The old and new harmonised short codes will run concurrently up until the May 17, 2023, when all networks are expected to have fully migrated to full implementation of the new codes.  The period between now and May 17, 2023 is provided by the NCC to enable telecom consumers to familiarise themselves with the new codes for various services.

The initiative, which is in line with NCC’s regulatory modernisation programme, is essentially to make life much easier for telecom consumers, as it is now easier for Nigerians to memorise single codes for various services across all mobile networks they may be using, thereby improving consumer quality of experience (QoE).

In addition, the new policy will provide opportunity for licensees in the Value-Added Services (VAS) segment of the telecoms sector to be able to use freed-up/old codes for other services, as well as enhance cohesive regulatory framework in keeping with world-class practices.

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, said in a statement on Tuesday that this was in accordance with the Nigerian Communications Commission’s regulatory modernization initiative (NCC).

According to Mr. Adeoye, short code harmonization entails making the common short codes used by customers uniform across all networks.

He stated that short code harmonization aims to implement a streamlined process for common short codes across the industry.

Adebayo said the initiative would make life easier for Nigerians through the memorization of single codes for various services across all networks, as well as providing a cohesive regulatory framework that is consistent with global best practices.

“Following the directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Association hereby informs the general public that the network operators have begun implementing the shortcodes, working closely with the NCC.

“The commission has provided adequate time for subscribers to get used to this new development. We are confident this will enhance the customer experience across networks,” he said.

Adebayo said the migration, which was to be concluded by May 17, 2023, would run concurrently, after which the old codes would cease to operate.

He said that the proposed harmonized shortcodes included, call center/help desk (300), voice mail deposit (301), voice mail retrieval (302), and borrow services (303).

The chairman said that others were stop services (304), check balance (310), credit recharge (311), a data plan (312), share services (321), data plan balance (323), verification of SIM registration (NIN) – SIM linkage (996), and porting services (MNP) (2442).