Nigerian Government Tells Google To Remove 18 Digital Loan Apps From Play Store

The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has told Google to remove 18 digital loan apps from its Play store.

The government made the demand through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), saying that the identified apps are operating on the Google Play store without regulatory approval or in violation of the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending, 2022 (Guidelines).

The commission on Wednesday stated that only digital money lenders that had regulatory scrutiny and compliance evidenced by written approval from it are allowed on Play store.

The FCCPC said that “Accordingly, the Commission has entered a further order requiring Google to immediately remove, withdraw, or drawdown the following apps:

1). Getloan 

2). Joy Cash-Loan Up to 1,000,000

3). Camelloan 

4). Cashlawn

5). Nairaloan

6). Eaglecash

7). Moneytreefinance Made Easy

8). Luckyloan Personal Loan

9). Cashme 

10). Easynaira

11). Swiftcas

12). Crediting

13). Swiftkash

14). Hen Credit loan 

15). Nut loan

16). Cash door

17). Cashpal

18). Nairaeasy gist loan.

It further stated that compliance with its guidelines is mandatory for all digital money lenders, and failure to comply is a violation of the law, adding that infractions or infringements may lead to permanent delisting and prohibition, as well as law enforcement action, including prosecution.

Recall that the FCCPC has been clamping down on loan apps recently for operating illegally or/and harassing Nigerians. On July 20, the commission delisted some registered digital money lenders for breaking its rules.