The Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division, interim injunction on 24 April 2026 restraining MTN Nigeria Communications PLC and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or interfering with Nairtime’s access to critical telecommunications platforms has helped to ensure access to essential airtime and data services for millions of Nigerians.

The Order, issued in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, prevents any disruption to essential infrastructure such as Short Codes, SMS, USSD, and billing services following a directive issued by the FCCPC that left Nigerians without a safety net.

This ruling ensures that millions of Nigerian consumers, particularly those without access to traditional banking can continue to access airtime and data on credit, services that are increasingly vital for daily communication, work, education, and digital participation.

The Court’s intervention provides policy certainty and helps preserve continuity for users who depend on these services not just for connectivity, but also as a gateway to financial inclusion and digital identity in an increasingly connected economy. The decision also reinforces the legitimacy of Nairtime’s operations, which are conducted under a valid Value-Added Service (VAS) licence issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Nairtime maintains that it has consistently complied with all regulatory requirements and contractual obligations. The company noted that the suspension linked to the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 risked disrupting services relied upon daily by ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking on the development, Ms Uchenna Agbo, Chief Commercial Officer, Optasia, and Chief Executive Officer, Nairtime Nigeria Limited said: “This decision is ultimately about protecting underserved Nigerian consumers. It ensures that millions of people many of whom are underserved by traditional financial systems, retain uninterrupted access to essential digital services.

“Over time, using these services responsibly can help them prove reliability and improve their chances of accessing bigger financial opportunities in the future. Our platform enables responsible, data-driven lending that keeps people connected when they need it most and we look forward to working with our partners to restore services in a manner that resumes full service value to the Nigerian consumers without further delay.”

Nairtime Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to consumer and data protection through stringent governance frameworks and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

The company emphasized that it shares the broader consumer protection objectives of the Federal Government and remains committed to constructive engagement with regulators and industry partners.

She added: “We have built a system that supports inclusion at scale, while maintaining strong risk controls for industry stability and economic impact. This ruling allows us to continue delivering safe, reliable services that Nigerians depend on every day. We remain focused on ensuring that the Nigerian consumer stays at the centre of innovation and will continue working with regulators and our partners, including MTN and Airtel, to promote a fair, transparent, and inclusive digital ecosystem that benefits Nigeria and all Nigerians.”

Optasia, which listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in late 2025, was founded in Nigeria 14 years ago and provides the infrastructure layer that connects mobile network operators and banks to millions of underserved customers.

Through its global partnerships with 50 distribution partners and 17 financial institutions —including some of Africa’s largest mobile network operators (MNOs) and tier-one banks — the platform leverages proprietary AI which processes credit decisions in under one second, using alternative data to assess risk for customers who have never held a formal credit product.

Beyond telcos, the company is also developing new propositions including SME and merchant finance, longer terms and higher-value credit, telco BNPL and revolving credit lines, and embedding its platform across adjacent ecosystems and verticals.

PalmPay’s Managing Director, Mr. Chika Nwosu, delivered a compelling address on the transformative role of embedded finance in Africa, at the third edition of Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON 3.0), held on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Lagos.

PAFON 3.0

Speaking on the theme “Embedded Finance in Africa: Powering Payments Where People Live, Work, and Trade”, Nwosu emphasized that the story of finance on the continent is not merely about innovation but about solving everyday problems.

He recalled that as recently as 2017, only 43 per cent of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa had access to formal financial services, with Nigeria facing even deeper exclusion. Even for those included, challenges such as network downtime and failed transactions plagued the system.

“The average Nigerian wants to synergise life, work, and business without friction. That is where embedded finance comes in,” Nwosu said, stressing that the solution lies in integrating financial services directly into platforms people already use and trust.

Highlighting the role of smartphones as gateways into the financial ecosystem, he noted that Nigeria’s large base of smartphone users presents a unique opportunity to expand access.

With small businesses and informal trade driving the economy, contributing over 80 per cent of employment and more than half of GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nwosu argued that financial services must meet people where they are: in markets, on ride-hailing platforms, at POS terminals, and in online shops.

PalmPay, he explained, has focused on building infrastructure that guarantees reliability at scale, achieving a 99.95 per cent transaction success rate. “Trust is everything,” he said, adding that the company’s fraud prevention systems and human oversight have been critical to sustaining user confidence.

Beyond infrastructure, PalmPay has expanded through a network of over 500,000 agents, bringing services to the last mile, while leveraging data and AI to personalize experiences and strengthen security.

Nwosu underscored that embedded finance is already reshaping Nigeria’s digital economy by improving cash flow for small businesses, creating jobs, and moving beyond financial inclusion to meaningful usage, cautioning however, that more work remains to be done.

He outlined three priorities for unlocking the full potential of embedded finance: reliability at scale, deep ecosystem integration, and accessibility. Success, he said, will be achieved “when a trader in a remote market can transact with the same speed and confidence as a corporate executive in Lagos.”

Nwosu affirmed PalmPay’s commitment to building this future, where payments become so seamless that users no longer have to think about them at all.

Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has defended the N6.98 Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), fee charged on banking transactions, insisting that the cost reflects the service provided by network operators, regardless of whether the transaction is completed.

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, made the clarification during a radio programme, where he addressed growing consumer complaints over what many Nigerians have described as “unfair billing” and the alleged “scam” of data expiration.

Adebayo likened the role of telecommunications companies in USSD transactions to that of a transport service provider facilitating access to banks’ digital platforms.

He said: “The phone company is like a taxi taking you to the bank’s digital office. Even if the bank’s system is down when you get there, you still have to pay the taxi man.

“Every USSD request initiated by a subscriber utilises network resources, irrespective of the outcome of the transaction on the bank’s end.

“When customers make repeated attempts due to failed transactions, telecom operators still provide connectivity for each attempt, thereby incurring operational costs,” he explained.

On the lingering dispute between telecom operators and banks over failed USSD transactions, Adebayo disclosed, “that regulators, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are currently reviewing data to determine responsibility for transaction failures.

“Each time you dial a USSD code, the telco provides the access. If the bank does not complete the transaction, it does not negate the fact that the network has already been used,” he added.

The ALTON Chairman also addressed widespread dissatisfaction over data expiration, clarifying that data bundles are sold within defined validity periods and are not designed for indefinite use.

“You can’t carry it in perpetuity, but you have the benefit of extending it without losing unused portions by just resubscribing,” he said.

He explained that subscribers can retain unused data through rollover options, provided they renew their subscriptions before the expiration of the current bundle.

Adebayo further shed light on the concept of toll-free lines, noting that such services are not entirely free but are funded by the receiving organisation.

“There is nothing like free service. These are reverse charge lines where the business or government pays for the calls,” he explained, adding that economic realities have made many organisations reluctant to sustain such costs.

He noted that this has contributed to the limited availability of toll-free services in Nigeria.

While acknowledging consumer frustrations, Adebayo stressed the need for greater public understanding of how telecom services operate, particularly the cost implications of maintaining network infrastructure.