The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained MTN Nigeria and Airtel from suspending or interfering with Nairtime Nigeria Limited’s (Nairtime) access to key telecom platforms.
The interim order covers short message service, unstructured supplementary service data, short codes and billing services, following a dispute linked to consumer lending regulations.
Nairtime is a provider of airtime credit processes millions of transactions daily, enabling subscribers to communicate and mobile operators to increase their airtime revenues.
The company is a subsidiary of the Optasia Group, a global artificial intelligence (AI)-powered fintech firm specialising in airtime advance and micro-lending services for mobile network operators
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/779/2026, preventing the mobile network operators from implementing measures that could disrupt Nairtime’s credit services pending the determination of the case.
The court action followed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's request to mobile operators last month to suspend airtime and data borrowing services in order to comply with the country's regulatory framework for digital credit.
Uchenna Agbo, CEO of Nairtime Nigeria and chief commercial officer of Optasia, described the ruling as a victory for financial inclusion and consumer access to essential digital services.
According to her, the platform enables responsible, data-driven lending that helps underserved Nigerians stay connected while building access to broader financial opportunities.
She added that the company remains committed to consumer protection, ethical AI use and constructive engagement with regulators, and telcos like MTN and Airtel.
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