The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has officially refuted recent reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu approved plans to open Nigeria’s airtime credit market to nine new operators. The commission stated clearly that it was neither aware of nor involved in the claims attributed to it.

The reports, which circulated widely on social media and some news platforms, suggested that the President had given the green light for new companies to enter the airtime lending space. This would have significantly expanded the number of players in a market currently dominated by a few major telecommunications firms.

However, the FCCPC stepped in quickly to set the record straight. In a brief statement, the consumer protection agency said the claims were false and did not originate from any official source within the commission. The agency urged the public to disregard the reports and wait for proper communication on any policy changes.

This denial raises questions about where the original story came from. Industry observers note that false announcements about market deregulation can sometimes cause confusion among consumers and businesses. The FCCPC’s swift rebuttal appears aimed at preventing any unintended market reaction based on incorrect information.

For now, the airtime credit market remains unchanged. Nigerians are advised to rely only on official announcements from government agencies. The FCCPC has not indicated whether it will investigate the source of the false reports, but it has made its position clear: no such approval has been given, and no such plan is currently on the table.