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FG Delists Loan Apps For Harassing Nigerians, Vows More Clampdowns

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Federal Government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has said it will release a list of illegal (unregistered) digital loan apps operating in Nigeria.

It also said it would delist two legal (registered) loan apps from Google Play Store for harassing Nigerians.

The FCCPC on Thursday announced that it has placed digital money lenders who have either declined or neglected to register according to its guidelines on a watchlist. This action enables the FCCPC to closely monitor them and take appropriate measures as needed.

In a statement signed by the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Babatunde Irukera, the FCCPC said, “The commission has also placed digital money lenders that have refused or failed to register under the guidelines on its watchlist for strict surveillance and necessary action.

“The list of those digital money lenders will be made available on the commission’s website.

“The Commission will continue to scrutinise listed DMLs and periodically update the list to ensure only businesses that consistently and completely comply with the spirit and intention of the regulatory framework are allowed to do business legally in Nigeria.”

It advised Nigerians to exercise restraint and discretion in selecting digital money lenders and specifically, recommended that consumers only patronise digital lenders on its approved list to avoid falling victim to illegal and prohibited lending and recovery practices.

Commenting on the permanently delisted digital lenders, the FCCPC listed them as Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and Orange Loan, and Purple Credit Limited, along with their respective apps — ‘Getloan’ and ‘Camelloan.’

It stated that it came to this decision after investigating the apps.

The commission said, “In the course of the commission’s continuing investigation and tracking of these illegally operating digital money lenders, the commission has discovered duplicity by at least two otherwise legally registered digital money lenders on the commission’s approval list.”

It noted that the firms had also engaged in the use of APK to attract borrowers to a process and practice that is illegal and unregulated.

Akande Ismail Abiola

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Akande Ismail Abiola

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