ABUJA, Nigeria — The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called for an urgent resolution of the regulatory dispute disrupting the airtime credit market, warning that the conflict threatens a short-term credit ecosystem worth up to N400 billion annually and undermines investor confidence.
Okay News reports that ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo said on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, that the situation has moved beyond a routine disagreement and now tests the credibility of Nigeria’s regulatory framework and respect for judicial directives.
“What is happening in the airtime credit market is not simply a dispute between regulators. It is a test of whether the structures that underpin business confidence in this country are functioning as they should. Court orders have been issued, businesses hold valid licences, and consumers are still being affected. We believe all parties have a responsibility to bring this to an orderly resolution,” Adebayo said.
He noted that the airtime credit market serves as an informal credit mechanism for millions of Nigerians, particularly traders, artisans, and small-scale entrepreneurs who depend on short-term airtime advances to sustain daily economic activity in the absence of formal credit. The market is estimated to be worth between N300 billion and N400 billion annually.
Adebayo said court orders restraining interference in the operations of licensed Value Added Service (VAS) providers remain in force, but licensed operators, including Nairtime Nigeria Limited and members of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPA), are still affected by the suspension. He warned that continued disruption despite judicial rulings raises concerns about regulatory coordination.
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) over oversight of airtime credit services. ALTON maintains that the NCC, under the Nigerian Communications Act, has clear statutory authority over telecoms operations, including VAS providers.
The association disclosed that it had raised concerns with the NCC as far back as August 2025, warning that regulatory inconsistencies could destabilise the market if not addressed.
 has called for an urgent resolution of the regulatory dispute disrupting the airtime credit market, warning that the conflict threatens a short-term credit ecosystem worth up to N400 billion annually and undermines investor confidence.){kind=link}