Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed as false a report claiming it approved 48 additional digital loan applications, raising the number of licensed digital lenders in Nigeria to 505.

In a statement posted on its official X handle on Sunday, the commission described the publication, titled “FCCPC Approves 48 More Loan Apps, Raises Licensed Digital Lenders in Nigeria to 505,” as “false, misleading and” not reflective of its actions.

The commission said it had not granted any new approvals or licences for digital lenders, stressing that it was complying with an ex parte order of the Federal High Court restraining the implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, pending further proceedings.

The statement read, “The attention of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been drawn to a publication titled ‘FCCPC Approves 48 More Loan Apps, Raises Licensed Digital Lenders in Nigeria to 505.’ The publication is false, misleading and does not represent the position or actions of the Commission.

“The FCCPC is a law-abiding institution and is fully complying with the ex parte Order of the Federal High Court restraining the implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 pending further proceedings.

“Consequently, the Commission has not granted any new approvals or licences pursuant to those Regulations. Any publication suggesting that the Commission recently approved additional digital lenders under the Regulations is entirely false.”

The commission urged members of the public, industry stakeholders and media organisations to disregard the publication and rely only on information released through its official communication channels.

It reiterated its commitment to complying with court orders and providing accurate information on its regulatory activities.

Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has declared support for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC’s) push to promote local smartphone manufacturing in the country.

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON,

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that ALTON described the move as a practical measure capable of accelerating broadband adoption and expanding digital inclusion across the country.

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, made the remarks to newsmen on Saturday while reacting to comments by Idris Olorunnimbe, chairman, NCC Board, who had earlier called for local smartphone production and innovative financing models to address Nigeria’s digital inclusion gap.

Adebayo said Nigeria must intentionally transition from being predominantly a technology consumer to becoming an innovator, designer and manufacturer of digital technologies, pointing to the country’s large telecommunications market and youthful population as the scale and human capital needed to support world-class manufacturing.

He said Nigeria’s ambition in local manufacturing should extend well beyond simply assembling imported components into finished devices.

“Our ambition should extend beyond assembling devices. We must pursue genuine knowledge transfer, research and development, product engineering, software development, semiconductor capabilities and large-scale manufacturing,” he said, adding that the goal should be producing devices and digital technologies for Nigeria, Africa and the global market.

Adebayo explained that the emergence of artificial intelligence has further strengthened Nigeria’s opportunity to become a competitive technology manufacturing hub, noting that AI is transforming product design, manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain management, customer experience and software innovation.

He said investing in AI-enabled manufacturing would improve productivity, create high-value jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness across Africa.

On tackling counterfeit and non-type-approved devices, Adebayo described the grey market as a major challenge affecting consumers, original equipment manufacturers and the wider telecommunications ecosystem.

He said robust local manufacturing backed by strong quality standards would provide credible alternatives to grey-market imports.

“This will strengthen consumer protection, improve network performance, retain greater value within our economy, and stimulate industrial growth,” he said, while also endorsing innovative smartphone financing, stronger device management systems and identity-enabled credit frameworks to help more Nigerians afford quality smartphones.

Adebayo said telecom operators remain ready to partner with government, manufacturers, financiers, academia, investors and development partners to build sustainable local manufacturing capacity in Nigeria.

(LASTMA) has launched a new toll-free short-code hotline, 3367, to improve emergency response, enhance traffic managemestrengthen accountability across Lagos State.

The new platform replaces the agency’s previous long-service code and provides a simpler and more accessible channel for residents to report traffic-related incidents. The service is available at no cost to subscribers on MTN, Glo and Etisalat (T2) networks.

Motorists and other road users can use the hotline to report vehicle breakdowns, road crashes, disabled trucks, stranded tankers, traffic obstructions and other emergencies requiring immediate intervention.

The platform also allows members of the public to report the conduct and professionalism of LASTMA personnel, a move aimed at promoting transparency and accountability within the agency.

To ensure wider accessibility, callers can communicate with hotline operators in English, Yoruba or Pidgin English, helping to eliminate language barriers and encourage greater public participation.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, general manager, LASTMA, described the launch as a major milestone in the agency’s efforts to build a safer, more efficient and technology-driven traffic management system.

He said the hotline reflects LASTMA’s commitment to leveraging digital solutions to tackle transportation challenges while strengthening collaboration with residents.

According to Bakare-Oki, the 3367 hotline provides Lagos residents with a direct, convenient and free channel to report incidents requiring urgent attention, noting that the growing complexity of Lagos as a major African megacity demands a proactive and technology-enabled approach to traffic management.

He assured residents that all reports received through the platform would be handled professionally and confidentially before being forwarded to the appropriate operational units for prompt action

Bakare-Oki urged the public to make effective use of the hotline to support road safety, improve accountability and contribute to a more efficient and sustainable transportation system across the state.