The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria has urged a swift resolution of the regulatory dispute disrupting Nigeria’s airtime credit market, warning that the continued impasse, despite subsisting court orders, threatens consumer protection, investor confidence, and overall regulatory stability in the telecoms sector.

ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed this in a statement, stressing that the matter demands immediate attention from all stakeholders.

He said the issue has escalated beyond a routine regulatory disagreement and now raises broader concerns about institutional coordination and adherence to judicial directives.

He added that regulators, telecom operators, and the Federal Government must collaborate to restore stability and clarity to the market.

Adebayo emphasised that the dispute carries wider implications for Nigeria’s business climate and the integrity of its regulatory framework.

“What is happening in the airtime credit market is not simply a dispute between regulators. It is a test of whether the structures that underpin business confidence in this country are functioning as they should. Court orders have been issued, businesses hold valid licences, and consumers are still being affected. We believe all parties have a responsibility to bring this to an orderly resolution,” Adebayo said.

He noted that the association’s concern goes beyond the commercial interests of its members.

He noted that licensed operators, including Nairtime Nigeria Limited and members of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria, remain affected by the suspension.

He warned that the continued disruption, despite existing judicial rulings, raises serious concerns about regulatory coordination.

He described the situation as a “test of business confidence structures” in Nigeria.

At the heart of the dispute is a jurisdictional clash between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission, particularly over oversight of airtime credit services and VAS providers.

ALTON maintains that the NCC, acting under the Nigerian Communications Act, holds clear statutory authority over telecoms operations, including VAS providers.

The association argues that the overlapping regulatory claims have created uncertainty, now disrupting commercial activity across the sector.

The association also disclosed that it had raised concerns with the Nigerian Communications Commission as far back as August 2025, warning that regulatory inconsistencies—particularly those stemming from regulations issued by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and existing inter-agency agreements, could destabilise the market if left unresolved.

The airtime credit ecosystem, estimated to be worth between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, plays a vital role in supporting informal economic activity across Nigeria.

It enables millions of small traders, artisans, and low-income earners to access short-term credit for communication needs in the absence of formal financing options.