ALTON Calls for Enforcement of Airtime Loan Court Orders

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), led by Chairman Gbenga Adebayo, has called for the enforcement of court orders related to airtime loans, highlighting the urgent need for resolution amid ongoing regulatory disputes that threaten Nigeria's airtime credit market. Adebayo stated that the situation extends beyond mere disagreements, as it tests the credibility of the country's regulatory framework.

He emphasized that the market, valued between 300 billion to 400 billion naira annually, is crucial for ordinary Nigerians who rely on airtime credit for daily transactions. Despite a federal high court injunction in Lagos and Abuja restraining interference with licensed operations, services continue to be disrupted, raising concerns across the telecom industry.

ALTON has urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to clarify their roles and align with existing court orders to restore market stability. The FCCPC has dismissed claims of a ban on airtime services, describing reports as false and misleading.