The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria has called for the urgent resolution of the ongoing regulatory dispute affecting Nigeria’s airtime credit market, warning that prolonged uncertainty could harm consumers and weaken investor confidence.
ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, in a statement on Tuesday, said the situation goes beyond a disagreement between regulators, describing it as a critical test of the country’s regulatory credibility.
“What is happening in the airtime credit market is not simply a dispute between regulators. It is a test of whether the structures that underpin business confidence in this country are functioning as they should.
“Court orders have been issued, businesses hold valid licences, and consumers are still being affected. We believe all parties have a responsibility to bring this to an orderly resolution,” he said.
The dispute stems from overlapping regulatory claims between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission over the control of airtime credit and Value Added Services.
According to Adebayo, interims injunctions by Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja had restrained interference in the operations of licensed providers, including Nairtime Nigeria Limited and members of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria.
However, the continued disruption of services despite subsisting court orders has raised concerns across the telecom industry.
ALTON maintained that the regulatory framework for licensed Value Added Service providers falls under the NCC, warning that unresolved jurisdictional overlap is driving uncertainty in the market.
Adebayo said the association had earlier flagged the issue to the NCC, noting that conflicting regulations risk undermining both legal clarity and commercial stability.
He stressed that the impact of the disruption is being felt most by ordinary Nigerians who rely on airtime credit as a financial lifeline.
“These are not abstract figures. Behind every naira in that market is a Nigerian who cannot go to a bank and get a loan. Airtime credit is how they bridge the gap.
“When the service goes dark, they feel it immediately,” Adebayo said.
He added that the market, estimated to be worth between ₦300 billion and ₦400 billion annually, plays a critical role for traders, artisans and small-scale entrepreneurs who depend on short-term credit for daily transactions.
On investor sentiment, Adebayo warned that uncertainty in regulatory coordination could discourage long-term investment in Nigeria’s digital economy.
“Investors take their cues from how disputes are managed, not just how they begin. A market where regulatory jurisdiction is unclear and where resolving that uncertainty causes disruption will struggle to attract the kind of long-term investment Nigeria needs,” he said.
ALTON called on both the FCCPC and NCC to urgently coordinate and clarify their roles, urging that any resolution must align with existing court orders.
The association also expressed readiness to engage with regulators and the Federal Government to restore stability in the market.
The development comes amid confusion over the status of airtime and data credit services after the FCCPC dismissed claims that it had banned the services, describing such reports as false and misleading.
Despite the clarification, major telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, temporarily suspended airtime and data borrowing services.
The disruption has affected millions of subscribers who rely on the services for emergency communication, particularly through the widely used *303# short code.
The FCCPC had reportedly directed operators to comply with its Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025, requiring engagement only with approved service providers.
Subscribers have since expressed frustration, describing the suspension as disruptive to daily communication needs and economic activities.
