meta_id 3340696

On July 20, 2026, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) resumed implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 (DEON Regulations) following a court judgment. Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, delivered the ruling in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/760/2026, dismissing the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (WASPAN) challenge to the regulations in their entirety. The court upheld the validity of the DEON Regulations, confirming that the FCCPC possessed the statutory and constitutional authority to issue them and that the specific provisions challenged were lawful and intra vires the Commission. The FCCPC had temporarily suspended implementation of the DEON Regulations in April 2026 after being served with an interim ex parte restraining order issued during WASPAN's legal challenge. The Commission immediately complied with the court directive in accordance with its commitment to the rule of law and judicial authority. The court's discharge of the interim order removed the legal impediment preventing the FCCPC from enforcing the regulations. The DEON Regulations aim to promote responsible lending, improve regulatory accountability, curb unfair and exploitative practices, and strengthen consumer protection in Nigeria's digital lending market. Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC's Director of Corporate Affairs, said the Commission would continue discharging its statutory responsibilities faithfully and professionally, ensuring that innovation and financial inclusion flourish within a transparent, fair, and accountable regulatory framework. The regulations are now fully operational and enforceable across Nigeria's digital lending sector.