The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has warned that the ongoing regulatory dispute affecting Nigeria’s airtime credit market could destabilise a sector valued at up to N400 billion annually.
Speaking on the issue, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON’s Chairman, said the crisis, despite existing court orders, poses risks to consumer welfare, investor confidence, and regulatory stability.
Adebayo described the situation as more than a routine disagreement, warning that it reflects deeper concerns about institutional coordination and adherence to judicial directives.
“This is a test of whether the structures that support business confidence are working,” he said, urging regulators, operators, and the Federal Government to urgently resolve the impasse.
At the centre of the dispute is a jurisdictional clash between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission over oversight of airtime credit services and Value Added Service (VAS) providers.
ALTON maintains that the NCC has statutory authority over telecom operations, warning that overlapping mandates are creating uncertainty and disrupting the market.
The airtime credit ecosystem, estimated at between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, serves as an informal credit lifeline for millions of Nigerians, particularly small traders and artisans who rely on short-term airtime advances.
ALTON said court injunctions restraining interference in the operations of licensed VAS providers remain in force, yet disruptions persist, raising concerns about regulatory alignment.
Operators, including Nairtime Nigeria Limited and members of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria, have reportedly been affected.
The association warned that continued uncertainty could undermine Nigeria’s investment climate, especially if regulatory actions are seen to conflict with court rulings.
Meanwhile, the FCCPC has denied banning airtime or data credit services, instead attributing recent disruptions to operators’ failure to comply with regulatory requirements introduced in 2025.
With both sides holding firm, industry stakeholders say resolving the dispute is critical to restoring stability in a market that plays a key role in Nigeria’s digital economy.
