Nairtime Nigeria Limited has hailed a Federal High Court ruling restraining telecommunications firms, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Networks Limited, from disrupting its airtime and data-on-credit services, describing the decision as a major relief for millions of underserved Nigerians who depend on the platform for digital access.

The company said the interim injunction, issued on April 24, 2026, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, preserved access to key telecommunications infrastructure, including Short Codes, SMS, USSD and billing services, pending the determination of the suit before the court.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2026, restrained telecommunications firms MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or restricting services provided to Nairtime Nigeria Limited pending the determination of a substantive suit.

The interim order followed an ex parte application filed by Nairtime Holdings Limited and Nairtime Nigeria Limited, who alleged that the planned actions threatened to disrupt their operations.

Chief Commercial Officer of Optasia and Chief Executive Officer of Nairtime Nigeria Limited, Uchenna Agbo, in a statement, said the ruling would help ensure uninterrupted access to essential communication and digital services for consumers who are often excluded from traditional financial systems.

“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”, Agbo said.

Agbo explained that the company’s platform provides responsible, data-driven lending services that allow users to access airtime and data on credit while building a digital transaction history that could improve future access to broader financial opportunities.

“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 Nigerian consumers without further delay,” Agbo added.

According to the company, the court order followed a directive from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which it said risked disrupting services used daily by millions of Nigerians for communication, work, education and participation in the digital economy.

Nairtime maintained that it operates under a valid Value-Added Service licence issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and has complied with all applicable regulatory and contractual obligations.

The company noted that the suspension linked to the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 could have significantly affected consumers who rely on airtime and data credit services, particularly those without access to conventional banking systems.

“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”.

The firm also reaffirmed its commitment to consumer and data protection through governance frameworks and ethical deployment of artificial intelligence, noting that it aligns with the Federal Government’s broader consumer protection objectives.