Telcos delay service restoration despite court order freezing action against Nairtime

Telcos delay service restoration despite court order freezing action against Nairtime

Telecom operators in Nigeria are yet to restore critical mobile services to Nairtime Nigeria Limited, days after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered a halt to any disruption, raising fresh concerns about compliance and regulatory tensions in the sector.

The court, in an interim injunction granted on April 24, restrained MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or interfering with Nairtime’s access to essential telecom infrastructure, including USSD, SMS, short codes and billing systems.

Despite the directive, checks as of the time of filing this report show that call and data lending services linked to the platform remain unavailable, suggesting that the court order has yet to translate into full operational restoration.

Efforts to obtain reactions from the affected telecom operators on whether they intend to comply with the ruling were unsuccessful, as they had not responded to media enquiries at press time.

The case, filed under Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, stems from a broader dispute tied to regulatory scrutiny of digital lending practices. Industry sources say recent compliance directives associated with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) triggered concerns among telecom operators, prompting moves to restrict third-party access to their systems.

Nairtime, a subsidiary of Optasia, operates as a bridge between telecom networks and financial institutions, enabling instant micro-credit services such as airtime and data lending through mobile phones. The company maintains that it operates within regulatory guidelines under a Value-Added Service licence issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The firm had warned that any disruption to its infrastructure access would affect millions of users who depend on airtime and data credit for communication and business activities, particularly in underserved communities.

Ms Uchenna Agbo, chief commercial officer, Optasia,and chief executive officer, Nairtime Nigeria Limited said; “This decision is ultimately about protecting underserved Nigerian consumers. It ensures that millions of people many of whom are underserved by traditional financial systems, retain uninterrupted access to essential digital services.

“Over time, using these services responsibly can help them prove reliability and improve their chances of accessing bigger financial opportunities in the future. Our platform enables responsible, data-driven lending that keeps people connected when they need it most and we look forward to working with our partners to restore services in a manner that resumes full service value to the Nigerian consumers without further delay.”

Nairtime Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to consumer and data protection through stringent governance frameworks and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

The company emphasized that it shares the broader consumer protection objectives of the Federal Government and remains committed to constructive engagement with regulators and industry partners.

“We have built a system that supports inclusion at scale, while maintaining strong risk controls for industry stability and economic impact. This ruling allows us to continue delivering safe, reliable services that Nigerians depend on every day. We remain focused on ensuring that the Nigerian consumer stays at the centre of innovation and will continue working with regulators and our partners, including MTN and Airtel, to promote a fair, transparent, and inclusive digital ecosystem that benefits Nigeria and all Nigerians,” she added.

Optasia, which listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in late 2025, was founded in Nigeria 14 years ago and provides the infrastructure layer that connects mobile network operators and banks to millions of underserved customers.

Through its global partnerships with 50 distribution partners and 17 financial institutions, including some of Africa’s largest mobile network operators (MNOs) and tier-one banks, the platform leverages proprietary AI which processes credit decisions in under one second, using alternative data to assess risk for customers who have never held a formal credit product.

Beyond telcos, the company is also developing new propositions including SME and merchant finance, longer terms and higher-value credit, telco BNPL and revolving credit lines, and embedding its platform across adjacent ecosystems and verticals.

While the court’s ruling was expected to preserve the status quo and ensure continuity of services, the delay in restoring access points to a deeper standoff between telecom operators, regulators and fintech service providers.

The situation highlights the growing complexity of Nigeria’s digital economy, where telecom infrastructure increasingly doubles as a backbone for financial services. As mobile lending gains traction, questions around consumer protection, data privacy and regulatory oversight are becoming more pronounced.

For millions of Nigerians who rely on airtime and data borrowing as a fallback in times of need, the current disruption underscores the fragility of these services amid regulatory and commercial disputes.

Although the court intervention offers temporary legal clarity, the lack of immediate compliance by operators suggests that the conflict is far from resolved, leaving users, fintech partners and regulators watching closely for the next move.