Millions of Nigerian telecom subscribers may soon regain access to airtime and data credit services after separate Federal High Court orders in Abuja and Lagos restrained enforcement actions tied to digital lending regulations.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, restrained the respondents—telecommunications firms, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited—from suspending or restricting services provided to Nairtime Nigeria Limited pending the determination of a substantive suit challenging regulatory actions linked to digital lending operations.
The interim order, contained in a Certified True Copy obtained on Tuesday, followed an ex parte application filed by Nairtime Holdings Limited and Nairtime Nigeria Limited, which approached the court over what they described as a threatened disruption of their business operations by the telecom operators.
In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, the plaintiffs argued that the defendants intended to suspend, discontinue, or otherwise interfere with their access to telecommunications platforms, including USSD channels, SMS, short codes, and billing services.
