● Company calls interim injunction a win for financial inclusion after FCCPC directive threatened service disruption
Nairtime Nigeria Limited says a Federal High Court injunction has preserved access to airtime and data on credit for millions of Nigerians who rely on the service to stay connected.
The company’s statement followed an interim order issued on 24 April 2026 in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, restraining MTN Nigeria and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or interfering with Nairtime’s access to key telecommunications platforms including Short Codes, SMS, USSD, and billing services.
“This decision is ultimately about protecting underserved Nigerian consumers,” said Ms Uchenna Agbo, Chief Commercial Officer of Optasia and Chief Executive Officer of Nairtime Nigeria Limited. “It ensures that millions of people many of whom are underserved by traditional financial systems, retain uninterrupted access to essential digital services.”
Agbo said the service helps users build a track record that can improve access to larger financial opportunities over time. “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.”
The order responded to a directive from the FCCPC that Nairtime said risked cutting off services used daily for communication, work, education, and digital participation, particularly by consumers without access to traditional banking.
Nairtime said it operates under a valid Value-Added Service licence issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission and has complied with all regulatory and contractual requirements. The company noted that the suspension linked to the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 would have disrupted a service many Nigerians depend on daily.
“We have built a system that supports inclusion at scale, while maintaining strong risk controls for industry stability and economic impact,” Agbo added. “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.”
Nairtime reaffirmed its commitment to consumer and data protection through governance frameworks and ethical use of AI, and said it shares the Federal Government’s consumer protection objectives.
Nairtime is a subsidiary of Optasia, an AI-powered financial infrastructure group that listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in late 2025. The company connects mobile network operators and banks to underserved customers using proprietary AI that processes credit decisions in under one second based on alternative data.
