Nigerian Telcos Urge Clear Rules for Airtime, Data Credit Services

Telecommunications operators in Nigeria are calling for a clear framework to govern airtime and data credit services, following a Federal High Court ruling that clarified the roles of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

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The court has done something important. It has confirmed the FCCPC’s authority and, in the same breath, affirmed that the NCC’s role is preserved. Concurrency means coexistence. The industry now expects both regulators to establish the coordination framework that the court’s reasoning requires.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, stated that the court's decision provides much-needed clarity. The ruling affirmed the FCCPC's authority to regulate these services while also preserving the NCC's exclusive responsibility for telecommunications licensing and technical regulation. Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa emphasized that the relationship between the two regulators is complementary, meaning "concurrency means coexistence, not displacement."

Adebayo urged both the FCCPC and NCC to establish a coordination framework as suggested by the court's reasoning. He stressed the importance of formal consultations with industry stakeholders before any enforcement actions are taken. This plea comes after a three-month suspension of airtime credit services earlier this year, which was later restored.

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concurrency means coexistence, not displacement.

"Forty million Nigerians depend on these services," Adebayo noted, highlighting the critical nature of these services. He also reminded the regulators of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council's directive requiring a Regulatory Impact Assessment before introducing significant regulatory changes. The industry awaits a defined operational synergy between the FCCPC and NCC to ensure continued access and stability for consumers.

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Forty million Nigerians depend on these services. The court has made clear that both regulators have a role. The industry is asking them to define how that works before any action that could disrupt access again.