The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) issued the comprehensive Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON Consumer Lending Regulations), 2025, which came into effect on July 21, 2025, to address predatory practices in the digital lending sector. Full compliance for all operators is mandated by January 5, 2026.
Key Guidelines and Provisions
The regulations cover registration, consumer protection standards, data privacy, and penalties for non-compliance.
These Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-traditional Consumer Lending
Regulations (DEON Consumer Lending) (hereinafter referred to as the
“Regulations”) are made pursuant to Section 163 of the Federal Competition
& Consumer Protection Act (2018) (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”),
and shall be administered by the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection
Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”). These Regulations
is in furtherance of the Commission’s obligation and function to protect
consumers and ensure a competitive and optimized market, generally and
without limitation to Sections 17(a), (g), (m), (s), (t), (x), (y) and 18 of the Act.
These Regulations provide standards, guidelines and guidance to
undertakings, their collaborators, affiliates, associates, or partners with respect
to the provision of applicable Consumer Lending Services. These Regulations
are in addition to, and not a substitute for compliance requirements under
other laws apart from the Act, any other Regulations or relevant oversight by
other applicable regulators. These Regulations herein made pursuant to the
Act also do not preclude compliance with any provisions of the Act, and
compliance with these Regulations shall not be an acceptable defence for
failure to comply with any provisions of the Act, or any other law in force.
In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sections 17,18 and 163 of
the Act, and all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Commission hereby
makes the following Regulations
ORGANIZATION MUST ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF LICENSED DPCO IN NIGERIA
