NIGERIA: FG approves 173 loan apps, bars illegal online banks

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have given its approval for 173 digital lending applications to operate in Nigeria.

Of these, 119 have full approvals while the other 54 have conditional approvals. The move follows a registration drive launched by the FCCPC aimed at protecting citizens from the unsavoury practices of loan apps.

The regulatory body released a ‘Limited Interim Regulatory/ Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending 2022’ document to regulate the digital lending space and make registration and approval a prerequisite for companies seeking to operate in the sector.

The FCCPC has now released a list of approved loan apps that can operate in the country. Companies without approval will not be able to operate in the digital lending space. Google has also taken action to enforce regulatory compliance, removing unapproved loan apps from its Play Store in Kenya in March.

The FCCPC released a statement in August 2022, outlining its efforts to create a clear regulatory framework for digital lending.

The commission stated that the “inter-agency Joint Regulatory and Enforcement Task Force has developed and mutually adopted a Limited Interim Regulatory/ Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending, 2022 as the first and interim step to establishing a clear regulatory framework.”

The guidelines are enforceable immediately and mandate different service providers in the relevant ecosystem to require regulatory approval before providing services.

The FCCPC has listed some of the approved loan apps, including Branch International Financial Services Limited, Fairmoney Micro Finance Bank, Pivo Technology Limited, Renmoney Microfinance Bank Limited, Carbon Microfinance Bank Limited, and Creditwave Finance Limited. Loans that do not have FCCPC approval will be removed from the Play Store by Google and will be unavailable for download.

In February 2023, the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau revealed that a national committee made up of federal agencies was working to curb the activities of illegal loan apps in the country.

The move is expected to further improve the regulatory environment for digital lending in Nigeria.

SOURCE:  Nigerian Tribune / Sandra Nwaokolo,