The directive targets alleged dominance by South African technology firm Optasia in airtime credit lending and data advance services.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to dismantle what has been described as a 12-year monopoly allegedly held by South African technology firm Optasia in Nigeria’s airtime credit lending and data advance market.
The directive places renewed focus on competition within Nigeria’s digital financial and telecom-related service ecosystem, particularly in areas connected to mobile credit access and data advances.
According to the report, the intervention specifically concerns Optasia’s alleged dominance in the sector over more than a decade.
The development signals increasing regulatory attention on market control and competitive balance within technology-driven consumer services operating in Nigeria.
Tinubu’s directive to the FCCPC also highlights the role of federal regulatory agencies in addressing concerns surrounding access, participation, and market fairness in sectors tied closely to everyday consumer transactions.
Further details regarding enforcement measures or timelines connected to the directive were not immediately disclosed.