Market News

By NDotun Omisakin, Lagos 

Renowned economist, Dr. Usman Idris, has said the new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Digital Lending Regulations 2025 will stimulate growth across the country’s financial technology sector.

The FCCPC’s 2025 Digital Lending Regulations are a new set of rules to oversee digital lenders in Nigeria, effective from July 21, 2025, and designed to combat issues like aggressive harassment, data privacy violations, and unfair interest rates.

 Lending his voice on the regulation, Dr. Idris described the commission’s new Digital Lending Regulations 2025 as a “Nigeria-first policy” opposing the fears of stifling the growth of fintechs.

He stressed that critics who claim the regulation will discourage innovation are “missing the bigger picture.”

“The new FCCPC framework levels the playing field by ensuring that both local and foreign firms compete fairly. That’s how economies grow — by allowing everyone a fair chance to create value,” he explained. 

According to him, the policy’s requirement that telecom companies engage at least one Nigerian-owned intermediary is vital for economic retention and digital sovereignty. 

“This is about ensuring that the billions generated from Nigeria’s digital economy don’t all end up abroad. It’s smart economics and smart governance,” he added. 

He also commended the commission for its consumer protection measures, calling them “some of the most progressive in Africa.” 

“This is how you build confidence, protect the consumer, encourage transparency, and let innovation flourish,” he said.