Court orders telcos to restore airtime, data credit services
Millions of Nigerian telecom subscribers may soon regain access to airtime and data credit services following separate Federal High Court orders in Abuja and Lagos restraining enforcement actions linked to
Millions of Nigerian telecom subscribers may soon regain access to airtime and data credit services following separate Federal High Court orders in Abuja and Lagos restraining enforcement actions linked to new digital lending regulations.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, restrained telecommunications firms MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or restricting services provided to Nairtime Nigeria Limited pending the determination of a substantive suit.
The interim order followed an ex parte application filed by Nairtime Holdings Limited and Nairtime Nigeria Limited, who alleged that the planned actions threatened to disrupt their operations.
In Suit No. In FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, the plaintiffs argued that the defendants intended to suspend access to telecommunications platforms, including USSD, SMS, short codes, and billing services, pursuant to directives issued under the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025.
They maintained that such actions would constitute unlawful interference with their business and contractual rights, stressing that they are licensed Value-Added Service providers under approvals issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Ruling on the motion, the court granted an interim injunction restraining the telecom operators from suspending or interfering with the plaintiffs’ access to platforms, channels, short codes, SMS, USSD services, and billing systems, pending the hearing of the substantive case.
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The judge held, “an Order of Interim Injunction is granted pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction restraining the Defendant whether by itself, officers, employees, agents or such other persons howsoever named from enforcing, implementing and or otherwise giving effect to the enforcement and or implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025(“The Deon Consumer Lending Regulations”)or otherwise giving effect to the enforcement and or implementation of paragraphs 3,7,10,12,13,14,15,16,24,27,29 and 32 of the said regulations).
“That an Order of Interim injunction is granted pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction restraining the Defendant whether by itself, officers, employees, agents or such other persons howsoever named from taking any steps towards interfering with or preventing the Plaintiff’s members from providing or continuing to provide or deploy any services or product governed by the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 (“The Deon Consumer Lending Regulations”).
The court also held that telecom operators must respect contractual dispute-resolution processes and notice periods, even when responding to regulatory directives.
