Millions of telecom subscribers in Nigeria may soon regain access to airtime and data credit services following separate interim orders issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja and Lagos.

The Abuja court, in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, restrained MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or interfering with the operations of Nairtime Nigeria Limited. The order followed an ex parte application filed by Nairtime Holdings Limited and its Nigerian subsidiary over a planned disruption linked to new digital lending regulations.

The plaintiffs argued that the telecom operators intended to restrict access to key services such as USSD, SMS, short codes, and billing platforms under the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025. They maintained that such actions would unlawfully interfere with their licensed operations under the Nigerian Communications Commission.

The court ordered that the status quo be maintained, preventing any suspension or restriction of services pending the determination of the substantive suit. It also emphasised that contractual agreements and dispute resolution processes must be respected despite regulatory developments.

In a related case, the Federal High Court in Lagos, in a ruling delivered on April 15, 2026, restrained the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from enforcing key provisions of the same regulations against the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria. The court barred the commission from imposing sanctions or taking steps that could disrupt services pending the hearing of an interlocutory application.

Airtime credit services, including MTN’s XtraTime and Airtel’s data advance offerings, were suspended in mid-April following compliance concerns with the new regulatory framework introduced by the FCCPC. The suspension affected millions of prepaid users who rely on airtime loans for daily communication and business activities.

The dispute stems from the DEON Regulations introduced in July 2025 to regulate digital and non-traditional lending services, including airtime credit. While regulators argue the framework is necessary for consumer protection, industry stakeholders maintain that telecom-based lending falls under the Nigerian Communications Commission rather than the FCCPC.

The FCCPC has denied banning airtime credit services, stating that the suspension was a commercial decision by operators. However, service providers and industry groups insist the regulatory overlap has created uncertainty affecting operations.

Both cases have been adjourned for further hearings on interlocutory injunctions, while stakeholders await a clearer regulatory direction on the future of airtime credit services in Nigeria.