The face-off in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector continues as MTN and Airtel, alongside the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), have reportedly failed to comply with a definitive judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court had ordered the immediate restoration of digital credit services provided by Nairtime Nigeria Ltd following the suspension of its popular XtraTime and XtraByte platforms on April 23, 2026.
In a landmark ruling, the presiding judge described the suspension as an “unlawful interference” with Nairtime’s valid operational licence issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the telecom giants from further disrupting the service.
However, days after the judgment, the services remain suspended, leaving millions of Nigerians without access to essential emergency airtime and data credit.
The continued silence of the FCCPC has drawn criticism from consumer rights advocates, who accuse the agency of failing in its duty to protect consumers and enforce market fairness.
Nairtime Nigeria Ltd, which provides the technology backbone for the credit services, is now pushing aggressively for enforcement of the court order.
The company argues that the telcos’ defiance violates its rights and penalises over 156 million subscribers who rely on these services, particularly in the informal economy.
Industry observers have expressed concern over what they describe as a dangerous precedent for the rule of law in Nigeria.“When a court of competent jurisdiction issues a perpetual injunction, it is not a suggestion; it is a command. For corporate entities to choose which judgments to obey is an invitation to anarchy,” an industry source warned.
The XtraTime and XtraByte platforms are vital tools for small business owners and individuals to stay connected even when they lack immediate funds for airtime or data.
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