The Federal High Court in Lagos has upheld the authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to regulate Nigeria’s digital consumer lending sector, including airtime and data credit services.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa dismissed a suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which sought to nullify the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations.
The court ruled that the FCCPC acted within its constitutional and statutory powers, affirming that its mandate on competition and consumer protection extends across all sectors of the economy, including digital lending.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa further held that while the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) remains responsible for licensing and technical regulation of telecommunications operators, the FCCPC has the legal authority to protect consumers and promote fair competition. He described the relationship between both regulators as complementary rather than conflicting.
The court also vacated the interim injunctions that had temporarily restrained enforcement of the DEON Regulations, clearing the way for the FCCPC to fully implement the rules across Nigeria’s digital lending ecosystem.
The ruling is expected to strengthen regulatory oversight of the country’s rapidly expanding airtime and digital lending industry, reinforcing consumer protection and fair market practices.
