Court Limits FCCPC Licensing Powers In Telecom Airtime Credit Case

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission can protect consumers and regulate competition in the telecoms airtime credit market, but cannot issue telecom licences.

The ruling leaves licensing authority with the Nigerian Communications Commission, while allowing the FCCPC to keep oversight of consumer protection issues linked to digital airtime and data credit services.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa gave the decision in a case involving the Digital Economy and Online Platforms Regulations. The court held that the FCCPC’s powers operate alongside the NCC’s statutory role, rather than replacing it.

Daily Post reported that the judge said the FCCPC could not issue licences or impose licensing rules in an area reserved for the NCC. The Guardian reported that the court also upheld the DEON regulations as a valid consumer-protection framework.

Independent reported the same licensing limit, saying the court drew a line between consumer protection and telecom licensing. The decision matters for airtime and data credit providers because it clarifies which regulator controls market entry and which one handles consumer safeguards.

A previous FCCPC digital lending ruling dealt with online consumer lending rules. The new decision concerns telecom-linked airtime and data credit services.

Sources: Daily Post, The Guardian, Independent