Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has rejected reports claiming it backed a major shake-up of Nigeria’s airtime credit market or secured presidential approval for new operators to enter the space.

In a statement at the weekend, the commission said it had no knowledge of the alleged plan and was not part of any process said to be opening the sector to nine fintech firms.

The clarification follows widespread media reports suggesting that President Bola Tinubu had approved a restructuring of the airtime credit ecosystem under the administration’s “Nigeria First” policy.

The reports also claimed the move would allow new players to compete in a market long dominated by telecom operators and their existing partners.

The companies mentioned in the reports include Technotrends Platforms Nigeria Limited, Total Tim Nigeria Limited, Fonyou Technologies Nigeria Limited, Rane Interactive Medien CLS Limited, MRS Innovation Nigeria Limited, Mode NG Applications Nigeria Limited, ERL Telecoms Service Limited, Cloud Interactive Associate Limited and Coverage Broadband Limited.

Some of the publications further suggested that the reform could unlock a market valued at about N3 trillion annually.

However, industry estimates generally place the size of Nigeria’s airtime credit and related digital lending space at between N300 billion and N400 billion.

But the FCCPC dismissed the entire narrative, insisting it was not involved in any approval process or regulatory announcement linked to the claims.

“The Commission wishes to state clearly that it is not aware of, and was not involved in, the claims attributed to it in the report,” the agency said through  Ondaje Ijagwu, director of Corporate Affairs.

The commission also clarified that its Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) regulations remain suspended.

According to the FCCPC, the suspension followed an interim court order issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos on April 15, in a case filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN).

It stressed that as a public institution, it is fully complying with the court directive and will not enforce the regulations until the matter is fully resolved in court, with the next hearing scheduled for July 20, 2026.

The agency added that it remains committed to due process and will continue to handle the issue strictly within the boundaries of the law.

In simple terms, the FCCPC says it is not driving any airtime market overhaul, has not approved new entrants, and is currently waiting on the courts before taking any regulatory action.

Karl Toriola, chief executive officer (CEO), MTN Nigeria, has defended the billings for data by the country’s network providers, saying they are some of the cheapest in the world.

Karl Toriola, chief executive officer (CEO), MTN Nigeria,

Network providers in the country have taken the stick in recent times for what some customers claim is a high cost for mobile data.

However, Toriola says that is not the case, arguing that Nigeria has one of the cheapest costs for data.

“Influencers and critics, look at the price at which we sell bundles of data. Then now take that price, go and check in Kenya, go and check in Congo, go and check across the world, and tell me if you are not going to tell me that data in Nigeria is one of the four cheapest in the world. Ghana is also very cheap, I acknowledge that,” he said during the MTN Data Trial conference held in Lagos at the weekend.

“But compared to any other African country, you will see that the data in MTN Nigeria, not just MTN, our competitors too, is one of the cheapest in the world, even after the tariff increase.”

In January 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50% tariff increase for telecoms operators in the country, meaning users had to pay more for data and airtime.

The regulator said the review, though lower than the “over 100%” requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability.

“These adjustments will remain within the tariff bands stipulated in the 2013 NCC Cost Study, and requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as is the Commission’s standard practice for tariff reviews. It will be implemented in strict adherence to the recently issued NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024,” the agency said in a statement.

It cited increased operational costs and the need to ensure that the delivery of services to consumers is not compromised as part of the reasons for the first hike in rates since 2013.

“These adjustments will support the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity, including better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage,” NCC said.

The move drew backlash from Nigerians and pressure groups such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which protested against the decision, describing it as harsh.

“This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship foisted on them by policies of the government that were no fault of theirs,” the union said.

Nigeria AI Film Festival (NAIFF) returns this September 2026 at Alliance Française Lagos to continue exploring the growing role of AI in filmmaking across Africa.

Following a strong debut, the festival founded by Obinna Okerekeocha has quickly become a gathering point for filmmakers, technologists, and creatives who are curious about what AI means for storytelling and where it’s all heading.

In its first edition last year, NAIFF recorded over 400 submissions and hosted a mix of curated screenings, panel conversations, and its AI Academy, an initiative focused on giving creatives practical tools for AI-driven production. The director of communications and panel host for the event, Chidera “Odera Collins” Okonji, described the experience as “a necessary disruption,” noting how it challenged familiar ways of telling stories and opened up new creative possibilities.

Many attendees shared similar reflections, describing the festival as immersive, eye-opening, and genuinely educational. For a lot of people, it was their first, hands-on experience seeing how AI is already shaping filmmaking within Nollywood and across Africa.

Building on that momentum, the 2026 edition is set to go even further. This year’s festival will place a stronger emphasis on experimentation, collaboration, and more grounded conversations around the ethical use of AI in film. The goal is simple: to keep pushing what’s possible while supporting the people actually doing the work.

The festival will feature:

• Screenings of selected AI-driven films
• Industry panels and conversations
• Hands-on workshops and training sessions
• Networking opportunities across creative and tech communities

NAIFF continues to position Nigeria within the global conversation on the future of filmmaking, one where technology supports, rather than replaces, human creativity.

Submissions for the 2026 edition opened on May 1 and will close on July 31. Filmmakers, artists, and digital creators are invited to submit works that explore new ways of telling stories with AI.

Speaking on this year’s call for entries, Director of Programs Chisom Ifeakandu described the current moment in filmmaking noted that African storytellers deserve to be at the centre of conversations around AI and creativity.

“We want to see films that use AI not as a gimmick, but as a real tool in service of stories that matter,” she said. “Show us something we’ve never seen before, make it feel true, and make it unmistakably yours.”

As the industry continues to evolve, NAIFF remains focused on building a space where innovation in African cinema can grow in a meaningful and sustainable way.

For submissions: https://filmfreeway.com/NaijaAIFilmFestival