A Federal High Court in Lagos has temporarily stopped the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commissionfrom enforcing key provisions of its Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa granted the interim injunction on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPA), which is challenging the legality of the regulatory framework.
The association approached the court on April 14, 2026, seeking urgent intervention to halt enforcement of several provisions of the regulations, also known as the “Deon Consumer Lending Regulations.”
In his ruling, the judge held that the applicant had demonstrated sufficient grounds for temporary protection, noting the need to preserve the subject matter of the case pending determination of the motion on notice.
WASPA argued that the regulations could cause significant harm to its members operating in Nigeria’s digital lending ecosystem, insisting that enforcement would result in irreparable damage to their businesses.
The group specifically asked the court to restrain the commission from implementing multiple sections of the regulations, including provisions related to operational compliance and sanctions.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa agreed with the application and ordered that no steps be taken to enforce or implement the disputed rules until the substantive motion is heard.
The court also barred the commission from imposing penalties or issuing directives against affected operators under the contested framework.
The matter has been adjourned to April 27, 2026, for hearing of the substantive application.
The regulations were introduced to strengthen oversight of Nigeria’s fast-growing digital lending sector, with a focus on consumer protection and data privacy, but have faced pushback from industry stakeholders over concerns about compliance costs and regulatory overreach.
