Court Orders MTN, Airtel to Restore Airtime and Data Credit Services

The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained telecommunications firms; MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited, from suspending or restricting their airtime and data credit services.

The court in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, answered the prayers by 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.

They contended that the planned action was based on directives allegedly arising from the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025.

The plaintiffs maintained that such actions would constitute unlawful interference with their contractual rights and business operations, noting that they are licensed Value Added Service providers operating under valid approvals issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

They further asserted that they had complied with all contractual obligations and that no valid notice of breach had been issued by the defendants.

Ruling on the motion, the court granted an order of “Interim Injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants/Respondents, whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents, or privies, from suspending, restricting, discontinuing, or otherwise interfering with the access of the 2nd Plaintiff to their platforms, channels, short codes, SMS, USSD, billing services and other telecommunications-enabled services and operations during the subsistence of the 2nd Plaintiff’s valid licence issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission under and by virtue of the Nigerian Communications Act on the basis of the DEON Regulations issued by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The court further held that telecom operators could not set aside agreed contractual notice periods and dispute-resolution mechanisms in a bid to comply with new regulatory directives.

The order specifically covers access to platforms, channels, short codes, SMS, USSD services, and other telecommunications-enabled operations utilised by Nairtime Nigeria Limited in delivering its airtime advance and digital lending services.

The court directed that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the substantive suit, noting the subsistence of a valid licence held by the second plaintiff.

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