Court orders MTN and Airtel to restore airtime credit services
Millions of Nigerian telecom subscribers may soon regain access to airtime and data credit services following court rulings against recent regulatory enforcement. The Federal High Courts in Abuja and Lagos issued interim orders restraining actions that led to the suspension of these services. MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited had suspended airtime credit offerings, affecting millions of users. The courts directed that the status quo be maintained pending further hearings.
What we know
- The Federal High Court in Abuja, in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, restrained MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or restricting services to Nairtime Nigeria Limited.
- The court order prevents the telecom operators from interfering with access to platforms, short codes, SMS, USSD, and billing services during the subsistence of Nairtime Nigeria Limited’s valid licence.
- The Federal High Court in Lagos, in a ruling delivered on April 15, 2026, also granted interim orders restraining the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission from enforcing certain lending regulations against the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria.
- Airtime credit services, including MTN’s XtraTime and Airtel’s data credit, were suspended in mid-April due to compliance with new regulatory requirements.
- The courts have adjourned both matters for an interlocutory hearing, and the association has urged the commission to comply with the court orders.
