Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has resumed the implementation and enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, following a Federal High Court judgment upholding the validity of the regulatory framework.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commission announced on Monday that the decision followed the dismissal of a suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which had challenged the FCCPC’s authority to issue and enforce the regulations.
Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos ruled in favour of the commission, holding that the regulations were issued within its statutory and constitutional powers and vacated the interim order that had halted their implementation.
FCCPC said the judgment removes the legal obstacle that prompted it to suspend enforcement in April 2026. It added that the regulations are now fully operational and enforceable, requiring digital lenders to register with the commission, comply with consumer protection standards, ensure transparent lending practices, safeguard borrowers’ data and refrain from abusive debt recovery methods.
Reacting to the judgment, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, said the commission suspended enforcement earlier out of respect for the rule of law and would continue to discharge its statutory responsibilities in line with the court’s decision.
He noted that the regulations are designed to promote responsible lending, improve accountability, curb exploitative practices and strengthen consumer protection in Nigeria’s growing digital lending sector.
The Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations were introduced in 2025 to address harassment, data breaches and other unethical practices in Nigeria’s digital lending industry. Enforcement was initially suspended after WASPAN obtained an interim court order, but the latest judgment clears the way for the FCCPC to fully enforce the framework.
