The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called for the urgent resolution of the regulatory dispute affecting Nigeria’s airtime credit market, warning that the ongoing disruption, despite existing court orders, poses risks to consumer welfare, investor confidence, and regulatory stability in the telecoms sector.
This was made known by the association’s Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, noting that the current situation requires urgent attention from all parties.
He said the situation has moved beyond a routine regulatory disagreement and now reflects deeper concerns about institutional coordination and respect for judicial directives.
According to him, all stakeholders, including regulators, telecom operators, and the Federal Government, must work together to restore order and clarity to the market.
Adebayo stressed that the dispute has broader implications for Nigeria’s business environment and the credibility of its regulatory framework.
He noted that the association’s concern extends beyond its members’ commercial interests.
He said court orders restraining interference in the operations of licensed Value Added Service (VAS) providers remain in force
Interim injunctions issued by the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja had previously restrained interference in the operations of licensed VAS providers. However, ALTON says the continued market uncertainty suggests a breakdown in alignment between regulatory actions and court directives.
At the heart of the dispute is a jurisdictional conflict between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), particularly over oversight of airtime credit services and Value Added Service providers.
The airtime credit ecosystem, estimated to be worth between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, plays a key role in supporting informal economic activity across Nigeria. It allows millions of small traders, artisans, and low-income earners to access short-term credit for communication needs in the absence of formal financing options.
