The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has resumed nationwide enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) Consumer Lending Regulations.
This comes after the Federal High Court in Lagos, South-west Nigeria, upheld the Commission’s authority to regulate Nigeria’s digital lending industry.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice A.L. Allagoa dismissed in its entirety the suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (WASPAN), affirming that the DEON Regulations were issued within the FCCPC’s statutory and constitutional powers.
FCCPC, in a statement by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, stated that the Court also upheld the specific provisions of the Regulations challenged in the suit and discharged the interim ex parte order that had temporarily restrained their implementation and enforcement.
The Commission said “the ruling removes the legal obstacle that prompted it to suspend enforcement in April 2026, making the Regulations fully operational and enforceable once again”.
Reacting to the judgment, Mr Ijagwu said the Commission’s actions throughout the litigation reflected its commitment to judicial authority and the rule of law.
“The Commission has always maintained that the rule of law is fundamental to effective regulation and good governance.
“When the Court issued its interim order, we immediately suspended implementation of the Regulations in full compliance with the Court’s directive.
“Now that the Court has affirmed the validity of the DEON Regulations and delivered judgment in favour of the Commission, we will continue to discharge our statutory responsibilities faithfully, professionally and in accordance with the law,” Ijagwu said.
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WASPAN had challenged the Commission’s authority to issue and implement the Regulations, prompting the temporary suspension pending the Court’s determination of the matter.
The statement said the Court’s decision reinforced the FCCPC’s mandate to regulate Nigeria’s digital lending market while protecting consumers from exploitative practices.
“The DEON Regulations are designed to promote responsible lending, improve regulatory accountability, curb unfair and exploitative practices, and strengthen consumer protection in Nigeria’s digital lending market”.
It added that the Commission remains committed to fostering innovation without compromising consumer rights or regulatory accountability.
