Nigerians who are threatened, harassed, or have their personal information shared without their consent by digital loan applications have the right to seek redress through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The reminder follows the FCCPC’s recent enforcement action against digital lenders over abusive debt recovery practices.
If a loan app threatens you, sends abusive messages, repeatedly calls you or your contacts to shame you, publishes your photograph, or shares your personal information without your consent, you can file a formal complaint with the FCCPC.
Such actions may violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and other applicable regulations governing digital lending.
To strengthen your complaint, consumers are advised to:
- Take screenshots of threatening messages, WhatsApp chats, emails, or social media posts.
- Save call logs and, where legally permissible, record threatening phone conversations.
- Keep copies of loan agreements, repayment records, and payment receipts.
- Document the dates, times, and details of every incident.
- Obtain statements from friends, family members, or colleagues who were contacted or harassed by the lender.
A petition can then be submitted to the FCCPC with all supporting evidence for investigation and possible enforcement action.
Where a consumer’s data privacy rights have been violated, complaints may also be lodged with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
The FCCPC has consistently warned digital lenders against public shaming, unauthorized disclosure of borrowers’ personal information, intimidation, and other unfair debt recovery practices.
Furthermore, the commission has maintained that while lenders are entitled to recover legitimate debts, they must do so within the bounds of the law.
Legal experts also note that victims who suffer financial loss, reputational damage, emotional distress, or privacy violations may, depending on the circumstances, seek additional remedies through the courts.
However, consumers should be cautious of claims circulating online that every offending loan app will automatically be required to pay at least ₦20 million in damages.
Compensation is not automatic and depends on the specific facts of each case, the applicable law, and the outcome of regulatory or judicial proceedings.
The FCCPC continues to encourage Nigerians to report abusive lending practices rather than endure harassment in silence.
