General
Telco Customers to Get Automatic Refunds Under CBN–NCC Airtime, Data Rules
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have released an exposure of the joint framework for the quick resolution of failed airtime and data purchase transactions, which will involve no customer intervention.
Recall that a month ago, Business Post reported that the two agencies came up with a directive that failed airtime and data purchase transactions were to be completed within 30 seconds, following rising consumer complaints over debits without value.
According to the exposure draft, mobile network operators and other industry players must ensure that refunds for failed airtime and data purchase transactions are completed within 30 seconds, and without any customer intervention.
This means that the customer should not have to file a complaint, call customer care, or submit a ticket before the refund is completed within 30 seconds of the failed transaction. Any delay beyond this window would be a breach of the rule.
The obligation is not limited to mobile network operators (MTNs, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile) alone; it also covers payment service providers, aggregators, fintechs, and value-added service providers involved in airtime and data sales.
The directive is contained in an exposure draft of a joint CBN and NCC framework released to the public, which targets situations where customers’ bank accounts are debited without corresponding airtime or data delivery.
The framework, according to the CBN, was developed to address “rising consumer complaints around failed airtime and data purchase transactions where customers are debited without successful service delivery.”
The document noted that the initiative is designed to “institutionalise clear accountability, standardise resolution timelines, and ensure a sustainable, coordinated approach to consumer redress across the financial and telecommunications ecosystems.”
Under the proposed rules, refunds for failed transactions must be processed automatically and in real time. The framework explicitly states that where airtime or data delivery fails, stakeholders are required to “refund Purchaser within 30 seconds,” regardless of whether the failure occurs at the bank, NCC-authorised licensee, or mobile network operator level.
The exposure draft further emphasised that since automated reversals should require no customer intervention, it recommended “automatic system-triggered reversals” supported by end-to-end transaction visibility tools and standardised error codes across the value chain.
To reduce multiple debits and delays, banks are instructed to limit transaction re-attempts, with the framework stating that “banks are to limit re-attempts to twice only,” while customers must be notified of pending, failed, or successful transactions in real time.
On accountability, the regulators made it clear that notifications of failure carry financial consequences, stating that “notifications of failure create final settlement obligations between MNOs and NCC authorised licensees.”
It also noted that “disputes between Stakeholders about this framework and its subject matter shall first undergo dual resolution amongst affected parties. Any dispute unresolved within five working days shall be escalated to regulators (CBN and NCC), addressed to the Director Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department of CBN, and/or the Director Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC.”
The exposure draft also disclosed plans for stronger regulatory oversight, including a central monitoring platform. According to the document, “there shall be a Central Monitoring Dashboard hosted by CBN and NCC for tracking reversals, SLA breaches, and customer complaints,” to provide real-time national visibility into failed transactions.
CBN director, Consumer Protection & Financial Inclusion, Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, in a statement, invited stakeholders and members of the public to submit comments ahead of the February 20, 2026, deadline, as regulators move towards finalising what they described as a national framework to “restore subscriber trust and ensure accountability” across Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to a Lagos socialite, Ms Aisha Achimugu, and her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, to the federal government of Nigeria.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established that the foreign currency was proceeds of fraud and unlawful activities.
The judge further held that Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited failed to establish how it came by the money, saying the anti-money laundering agency satisfied all requirements for the funds to be classified as proceeds of fraud and to be forfeited to the appropriate authority.
He dismissed the claims that the $13 million was gifts received into the Oceangate Engineering Company by Ms Achimugu, adding that the woman never came to the court to show cause why the huge amount of money should not be forfeited to the government.
He held that no single person who gave the monetary gift to Aisha Achimugu to the tune of $13 million was called to testify.
The judge further held that the burden to establish genuine ownership of the money was not established by the applicant to counter the claims of the anti- graft agency that the money was the proceeds of fraud based on its investigation.
According to the judge, Oceangate Engineering Company did not show the business it undertook that fetched it the money, nor did it show whether any payment was made to it by any of its customers.
Justice Nwite had, on August 22, 2025, granted the anti-graft agency’s motion ex parte for an interim order forfeiting the sum of $13 million linked to Oceangate Ltd to the Federal Government over allegations that the fund was proceeds of unlawful activity.
The judge had then directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested people to show cause within 14 days why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has inaugurated a 17-member Planning Committee to coordinate the National Flag-Off of the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) Initiative, a flagship programme aimed at transforming research outputs into economic value.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Philip Ndiomu Ebiogeh, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to convert Nigeria’s vast research and innovation outputs into market-ready products, scalable enterprises, and job-creating opportunities.
He noted that ECoN will mobilise stakeholders nationwide to identify bankable innovations and accelerate their transition from laboratories to the marketplace, stressing that the country must move beyond theoretical research to practical solutions that drive industrial growth and national prosperity.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, had earlier briefed the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, on the initiative and proposed her as a champion of the programme, with the national flag-off scheduled for Kano State.
He explained that Kano was deliberately selected due to its historic role as a commercial and industrial hub, offering strong potential to attract investment, stimulate enterprise, and create jobs.
The Committee is chaired by the Minister, with the Permanent Secretary as Co-Chairman, while the Director-General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, NBRDA, and the Director-General, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, SHESTCO, serve as Alternate Chairmen.
Members include Professor Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Dr Jummai Adamu, Dr (Mrs) Obiageli Amadiobi, Dr Kabiru Mu’azu, Dr Anwal Mustapha, Engr Ibiam Oguejiofo, Mr Moses Fatogun, Mr Adamu Sulaiman (a representative of SMEDAN), Dr Prince Lawrence Eze, Mr Sani Garba, Dr Muhammad Mustapha, Dr Chioma Okeke, Mr Luther Onyemkpa, Mr Charles Egumgbe, and Dr Nwankwo Nnenna serving as Secretary.
The national flag-off is proposed for late April or early May 2026, subject to Presidential approval.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to positioning innovation as a key driver of economic diversification and sustainable development, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Switzerland-headquartered global shipping giant, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has complied with the directive of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to suspend the implementation of its new tariff pending consultations with stakeholders.
In a customer advisory titled Temporary Suspension of New Tariff Implementation, the shipping line stated that the tariff regime in place before the recent increase would remain effective until further notice.
Business Post reported a few days ago that freight forwarders picketed the offices of MSC, protesting the recent increase in shipping line tariffs. They blocked the regulators from accessing the MSC premises to address the matter.
Despite the protests, the council’s attempt to engage the aggrieved freight forwarders in discussions was resisted, as the protesters insisted that there was no basis for dialogue and vowed to continue the protest until the increased charges were immediately reversed.
In the latest directive, the shipping company said, “We wish to inform our esteemed customers that the recently implemented tariff adjustment has been temporarily suspended, following a directive from the NSC. This suspension is pending the conclusion of ongoing engagements and resolution with the regulator.”
“Accordingly, the tariff regime applicable prior to the recent increase will remain in force until further notice, as mandated.”
The company further assured customers that updates would be communicated once a final decision is reached by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
“We remain fully committed to regulatory compliance, transparency, and protecting the interests of our customers. Further updates will be communicated promptly once a definitive position is issued by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. We appreciate your understanding and continued cooperation,” the advisory added.
NSC had warned that prolonged industrial disputes within the maritime sector could disrupt port operations and negatively impact trade and economic activities.
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