The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has resumed the enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 (DEON), following a Federal High Court judgment that upheld the validity of the framework.
The development comes after Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed a suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which had challenged the commission’s authority to issue and enforce the regulations.
According to the FCCPC, the court rejected all the reliefs sought by WASPAN and ruled that the DEON Regulations were made within the commission’s statutory and constitutional powers. The court also discharged the interim order that had halted their implementation.
The commission had introduced the regulations in September 2025 under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, to regulate unsecured consumer loans offered through digital and other non-traditional channels.
The framework requires digital lenders to register with the FCCPC, adopt transparent lending practices, protect borrowers’ personal data, comply with consumer protection standards and avoid abusive debt recovery methods.
Although the commission fixed January 5, 2026, as the deadline for full compliance, implementation was suspended in April after an interim court order obtained by WASPAN.
Reacting to the latest judgment, FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the commission’s decision to suspend enforcement was in full compliance with the court’s directive and reflected its commitment to 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.
“Our objective has always been to ensure that innovation and financial inclusion flourish within a transparent, fair and accountable regulatory framework that inspires confidence among consumers, investors and responsible operators alike.”
Ijagwu added that the regulations are designed to encourage responsible lending, strengthen regulatory accountability, curb exploitative lending practices and enhance consumer protection across Nigeria’s growing digital lending industry.
