Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a digital payment hub is a testament to the nation’s adaptability and innovation. From the vibrant markets of Lagos to the remote communities in the North, the shift toward cashless transactions has reshaped how Nigerians engage in commerce. The proliferation of mobile money, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and online payment platforms has introduced unprecedented convenience and efficiency. However, as with any transformative process, challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that the benefits of digitalization are accessible and equitable for all.  

The recent Visa report, “Value of Acceptance: Understanding the Digital Payment Landscape in Nigeria”, underscores the immense potential of digital payments, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It highlights how digital transactions can foster financial inclusion, stimulate economic growth, and empower businesses. Yet, the report also sheds light on a pressing issue: the rising cost of transaction fees, which can hinder the full realization of these benefits for many Nigerians. 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a new policy, effective March 1, 2025, including ATM withdrawal charges. Under this policy, Nigerians will incur a N100 fee for every N20,000 withdrawal at off-site ATMs, with an additional N500 surcharge at standalone cash points. While this measure may be intended to encourage cashless transactions and reduce the cost of cash management, it has sparked concerns about its impact on individuals and businesses, particularly those in underserved areas where cash remains a primary means of exchange. 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has expressed reservations about the policy, describing it as potentially burdensome for ordinary Nigerians. This perspective highlights the need for a balanced approach that considers the economic realities faced by many citizens, especially in a period of rising inflation and financial uncertainty. At the same time, it is important to recognize the broader context in which the CBN operates, including the need to manage the costs associated with maintaining a robust financial infrastructure. 

 The digital payment revolution in Nigeria holds immense promise. It has the potential to streamline processes, reduce inefficiencies, and create opportunities for millions. However, for this transformation to be truly inclusive, it must address the concerns of all stakeholders. Transparency in pricing, affordability of services, and accessibility for underserved populations are critical factors that will determine the success of Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem. 

 To move forward, several steps can be considered. First, fostering greater transparency in the pricing of digital payment services can help build trust and ensure that users are fully aware of the costs involved. Second, policymakers and regulators could explore ways to balance the need for sustainable financial systems with the goal of minimizing the financial burden on consumers and SMEs. This might include targeted interventions to support vulnerable populations and incentivize the adoption of digital payments. 

Furthermore, expanding financial literacy initiatives can play a key role in addressing hesitations about digital payments, particularly in rural areas. By educating Nigerians about the benefits and practicalities of cashless transactions, stakeholders can help bridge the gap between traditional and digital financial systems. 

 Nigeria’s digital payment revolution is a significant achievement, and the country is well-positioned to serve as a model for other nations in Africa. However, ensuring that this transformation is inclusive and equitable will require ongoing collaboration among policymakers, financial institutions, and the public. By addressing the challenges and building on the progress made so far, Nigeria can create a digital payment ecosystem that benefits all its citizens. 

 As the nation continues to embrace digitalization, it is essential to keep the focus on creating a system that is not only technologically advanced but also fair and accessible. This balanced approach will ensure that the digital payment revolution truly serves as a catalyst for inclusive growth and economic empowerment.

The post Nigeria  Digital Payment Evolution: Progress and Challenges By Fom Gyem appeared first on Tech Digest News.

President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the ongoing debate over the implementation of the controversial cybersecurity levy in Nigeria. Following mounting pressure and concerns raised by various stakeholders, including the House of Representatives, President Tinubu has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation of the levy and initiate a thorough review of the policy.

The directive to suspend the levy came after the House of Representatives called on the CBN to withdraw its circular mandating all financial institutions to commence charging a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions.

The CBN had issued a circular on May 6, 2024, instructing banks, mobile money operators, and payment service providers to implement the levy in accordance with the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act 2024.

However, the move sparked mixed reactions among stakeholders due to concerns about its potential impact on the cost of doing business and digital transaction adoption in the country.

In response to the growing concerns, President Tinubu ordered a review of the levy, citing the need to alleviate the economic burden on Nigerians, especially amid ongoing economic reforms.

Sources within the presidency indicated that President Tinubu was sensitive to the plight of Nigerians and did not want to exacerbate their hardships with additional levies.

While acknowledging the importance of cybersecurity measures, President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the levy reflects his commitment to responsive governance and willingness to listen to the concerns of the populace.Reacting to the President’s decision, various stakeholders expressed their views.

The Peoples Democratic Party’s National Publicity Secretary welcomed the suspension of the levy, describing it as an anti-people decision from the beginning.

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprises commended the President for his responsiveness, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive review process involving stakeholders and the organized private sector.

However, some voices, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), threatened legal action if the levy was not withdrawn within 48 hours, citing constitutional violations and human rights concerns.

In the midst of these developments, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reiterated its call for the reversal of the directive, highlighting the financial strain already faced by Nigerians due to multiple taxes and levies.

As the debate continues, President Tinubu’s decision to halt the implementation of the cybersecurity levy underscores the importance of striking a balance between enhancing cybersecurity measures and mitigating the financial burden on the populace.

The forthcoming review process is expected to address stakeholders’ concerns and pave the way for a more transparent and inclusive approach to cybersecurity policy in Nigeria.

The post Tinubu Halts Implementation of Cybersecurity Levy, Orders Review appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) threatened to sue the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) if it doesn’t withdraw a recently published regulation, ‘the Customer Due Diligence Regulations 2023′ released on Friday, June 23, 2023.

“All financial institutions — including banks, credit unions, and savings and loan organisations — must collect and verify customers’ social media handles”.

CBN stated that the reason for the new policy is to increase compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) provisions.

READ ALSO: CBN Directs Banks to Obtain Customers’ Social Media Handles, Digital IDs

CBN further explained that this information will be combined with other Know Your Customer (KYC) data, like legal names, addresses, contact information, and identification documents, to create a comprehensive customer profile.

SERAP claims that the regulation violates Nigerians’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression.

SERAP stated that since banks and other financial institutions already collect these information, asking for a customer’s social media handles or addresses serves no legitimate purpose.

Because of this, SERAP asked that the CBN repeal the law three days after its receiving and/or publishing its letter or it could sue the apex bank.

Failure to do so would allow SERAP to pursue all available legal remedies to compel the CBN to abide by its request in the public interest.

The post CBN faces possible lawsuit on new regulation appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – The ECOWAS Court has declared that the federal government’s order to ban Twitter in June 2021 was unlawful and a violation of the rights of Nigerians.

The court which gave the ruling on Thursday held that the Federal government’s action was unlawful and inconsistent with Article 9 of the African Charter and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Recall that the Nigerian government had banned Twitter on June 5, 2021, after the platform deleted President Buhari’s tweets.

The court’s pronouncement

The suit was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians.

Delivering judgement on the matter on Thursday, the court declared that it has the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

“The Buhari administration in suspending the operations of Twitter violates the rights of SERAP and 176 concerned Nigerians to the enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and the media, as well as the right to a fair hearing,” the court ruled.

The court directed the present administration to ensure the unlawful ban on Twitter never repeats itself again.

The court ordered the FG to bring up policies that give effect to the rights and freedom of Nigerians.

The ECOWAS Court directed the deputy chief registrar to assess the cost of the proceeding and ordered the Federal Government to bear the costs.

The post ECOWAS court declares Twitter ban unlawful, violation of Nigerians rights appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that 4.5 million Nigerian youths completed the online registration for fresh voters’ cards as of May 30, 2022.

The youths, who are between the ages of 18 and 34, according to INEC’s data accounted for 69.5% of the total registrations completed online since the beginning of the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise. INEC disclosed that while a total of 10.2million fresh applications were received, only 6.5 million applicants completed their registration, out of which the youths accounted for 4.5 million.

The youth’s interest in registering for voters’ cards this year may have been aroused by various advocacy campaigns by influencers on various social media platforms, especially, Twitter.

Out of the 6.5 million, who completed the online registration, INEC says 1.3 million were middle-aged Nigerians between the age of 35 to 49, while 556,572 were elderly people between the ages of 50 to 69.

Older people between the ages of 70 and above also used the online platform to register for voters’ card as 76,186 of them completed their registration.

READ ALSO: ITU Appoints Pantami To Lead World Summit On Information Society Forum 2022

In terms of gender, 3.25 million of the applicants were male while 3.29 million were female.

What you should know

The electoral umpire had announced that the online registration would close by Monday 30th May 2022, while the continuous voters registration exercise would end by June 30, 2022. However, Nairametrics checks show that the portal is still open today as of the time of filing this report.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to extend the deadline for voter registration to give more time for eligible Nigerians to exercise their right to participate in the same way the electoral body has extended the deadline for party primaries.

According to SERAP, “Extending the voter registration deadline would provide more time for eligible voters, including young people, the elderly, people living with disability, as well as those resident in states facing security challenges and living in IDP camps to participate in the 2023 elections.”

Source: Nairametric

The post 4.5 million Youth Complete Online Voter Registration In May 2022, Says INEC appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a suit filed against the Federal Government for directing television and radio stations to delete their Twitter accounts.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit and awarded the sum of N100, 000 against the plaintiff.

Solacebase reports that the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had, in June, filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/496/21, against three defendants.

In the suit, SERAP had sued the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Director-General of NBC and the Minister of Information and Culture as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The suit followed the order by the NBC, asking all broadcast outfits to immediately suspend patronage of the social media giant after it was banned for violating Nigerian laws.

The group had sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government and the regulator from “censoring, regulating, licensing and controlling the social media operations and contents by broadcast stations and activities of social media service providers in Nigeria.”

It also sought and order setting aside the directive asking broadcast stations to stop using Twitter, as being “unconstitutional, unlawful, inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], and the country’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

SERAP stated further that the court had an important role to play in the protection and preservation of the rule of law to ensure that persons and institutions operate within the defined ambit of constitutional and statutory limitations.

It argued that the directive amounted to a fundamental breach of the principle of legality, the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom, and incompatible with the country’s international human rights obligations, among others.

In their preliminary objections, the 1st and 2nd defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit.

They argued that the directive did not in any way affect the plaintiff.

They further averred that the action was taken in the interest of the country’s national security, economy and unity, adding that the suit was filed in bad faith.

The defendants told the court that apart from Twitter, there are other social media platforms through which the plaintiff could access information and interact like the Facebook, etc.

Also in his argument, the Minister of Information, through his lawyer, Nelson Orji, said the Federal Government operates within the ambit of the law and would not do anything to undermine it.

He said that the operation of Twitter, an American microblogging and social media outfit, within the Nigerian cyberspace required it to operate within the confines of the laws.

He told the court that the company was not registered as a company in Nigeria as required by the law.

According to Orji, by the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), foreign businesses wishing to carry on business in Nigeria are required to be registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission as a Nigerian company.

The lawyer argued that Twitter, as a company operating in the country, had not been paying taxes as required by the law.

He told the court that what the government had done was to suspend its operation of business activities pending its willingness to operate within the Nigerian laws.

Orji also stated that apart from Twitter, there are other mcroblogging social media outfits like Facebook, WhatsApp, etc, that are still operating within Nigeria which Nigerians are still using to disseminate information unhindered.

He added that Twitter was suspended because its activities became a threat to the country’s national security, and the welfare of its people.

“The primary role of government as provided for by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is security and welfare of the people,” Orji had told the court.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Egwuatu held that the fundamental rights of the plaintiff had not been breached because the freedom of expression provided for under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is not absolute.

He stated that the section is limited under Section 45(1) which deals with the issues of defence, public safety, public health, public morality, etc.

The judge held that the media houses, under which SERAP had filed the suit, did not complain about the ban, hence, the plaintiff cannot cry more than the bereaved.

He also agreed with the defendants that there are other microblogging platforms through which the plaintiff could express information like the Facebook and others.

Egwuatu held that when national security is threatened, the issues of fundamental human rights take second stage.

He said besides, the Twitter was not a registered company in the country as required by the laws.

Justice Egwuatu, who dismissed the suit for lacking in merit, awarded a cost of N100, 000 in favour of the defendants.(NAN)

The post Twitter ban: Court dismisses suit against FG, awards N100,000 fine against SERAP appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – The ECOWAS Court of Justice has fixed Friday, July 9, for the hearing of Nigerian government’s application for the consolidation of the four suits relating to the ban on Twitter in the country.

Nigerian government’s lawyer, Abdullahi Abubakar, had filed the application on July 5, a statement by the court’s press unit said on Wednesday.

The statement said the court had to adjourn the hearing of the application because two out of the four parties suing the federal government over the Twitter ban were not represented in court at Wednesday’s proceedings.

Only the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), on one hand, and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and eight others, on the other hand, were represented by their lawyers.

The lawyers did not object to the respondent’s request for consolidation of the four pending suits.

“However the court observed that only two of the parties were represented in court and adjourned the matter to July 9, 2021, for all parties including the representatives of the parties absent at the proceeding to make their submissions on the application for consolidation,” the statement added.

The post Nigeria Govt Solicits consolidation Of TwitterBan Suits At ECOWAS Court appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – The ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja in a landmark ruling today “restrained the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and its agents from unlawfully imposing sanctions or doing anything whatsoever to harass, intimidate, arrest or prosecute Twitter and/or any other social media service provider(s), media houses, radio and television broadcast stations, the Plaintiffs and other Nigerians who are Twitter users, pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”

The ruling followed the suit filed against the government by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians arguing that “the unlawful suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, criminalization of Nigerians and other people using Twitter have escalated repression of human rights and unlawfully restricted the rights of Nigerians and other people to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom in the country.”

The ECOWAS court gave the order after hearing arguments from Solicitor to SERAP, Femi Falana SAN, and lawyer to the government Maimuna Shiru.

According to the ECOWAS, “The court has listened very well to the objection by Nigeria. The court has this to say. Any interference with Twitter is viewed as inference with human rights, and that will violate human rights.

“Therefore, this court has jurisdiction to hear the case. The court also hereby orders that the application be heard expeditiously. The Nigerian government must take immediate steps to implement the order.”

This development was disclosed today by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.

Reacting to the ruling, Femi Falana, SAN said: “The intervention of the ECOWAS Court is a timely relief for millions of Nigerians using Twitter who have been threatened with prosecution under the provision of the Penal Code relating to sedition.”

“Contrary to the assurance credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN that violators of the Twitter would not be prosecuted, the Federal Government filed processes in the ECOWAS Court threatening to prosecute Nigerians using Twitter for violating the suspension under the provisions of the Penal Code relating to sedition.”

“It is extremely embarrassing that the Federal Government could threaten to jail Nigerians for sedition, which was annulled by the Court of Appeal in 1983, in the case of Arthur Nwankwo vs The State.”

The suit and the ruling followed the suspension of Twitter by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed after the social media giant was banned in the country for deleting President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) also ordered TV and radio stations to “suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately”, and told them to delete ‘unpatriotic’ Twitter.

The substantive suit has been adjourned to 6th July 2021 for hearing of the substantive suit.

It would be recalled that SERAP and the concerned Nigerians had in the suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21 sought “An order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing its suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and subjecting anyone including media houses, broadcast stations using Twitter in Nigeria, to harassment, intimidation, arrest and criminal prosecution, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The suit, read in part “if this application is not urgently granted, the Federal Government will continue to arbitrarily suspend Twitter and threaten to impose criminal and other sanctions on Nigerians, telecommunication companies, media houses, broadcast stations and other people using Twitter in Nigeria, the perpetual order sought in this suit might be rendered nugatory.”

“The suspension of Twitter is aimed at intimidating and stopping Nigerians from using Twitter and other social media platforms to assess government policies, expose corruption, and criticize acts of official impunity by the agents of the Federal Government.”

“The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens and elected representatives is essential. This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censor or restraints, and to inform public opinion. The public also has a corresponding right to receive media output.”

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and the full enjoyment of this right is central to achieving individual freedom and to developing democracy. It is not only the cornerstone of democracy, but indispensable to a thriving civil society.”

“The arbitrary action by the Federal Government and its agents have negatively impacted millions of Nigerians who carry on their daily businesses and operational activities on Twitter. The suspension has also impeded the freedom of expression of millions of Nigerians, who criticize and influence government policies through the microblogging app.”

“The suspension of Twitter is arbitrary, and there is no law in Nigeria today permitting the prosecution of people simply for peacefully exercising their human rights through Twitter and other social media platforms.”

“The suspension and threat of prosecution by the Federal Government constitute a fundamental breach of the country’s international human rights obligations including under Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”

“The suspension has seriously undermined the ability of Nigerians and other people in the country to freely express themselves in a democracy, and undermined the ability of journalists, media houses, broadcast stations, and other people to freely carry out their professional duties.”

The post JUST IN: ECOWAS Court Stops FG From Prosecuting People Using Twitter appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – GLOBAL watchdog, Amnesty International, on Sunday joined 70 other civil society groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), to demand an immediate end to the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria by the Federal Government.

In a statement put out by the coalition, the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) were also asked to pressure the Nigerian government to allow for free speech in the country. The statement reads in part:

“We, the undersigned civil society organisations are concerned about the repression and escalating crackdown on human rights by the Nigerian government, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.

“We strongly condemn the arbitrary and unlawful suspension of Twitter in Nigeria by the authorities and the resulting restrictions on the human rights of people, as well as the threat to prosecute anyone using Twitter in Nigeria.

“We also condemn the ‘directive’ issued by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for all broadcast stations to deactivate their Twitter accounts.”

The coalition noted that going by the ban on Twitter in Nigeria, as announced by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the subsequent directive to internet service providers in Nigeria to block access to Twitter, “we are concerned about an alarming backsliding on human rights across Nigeria as the Federal Government and state authorities continue to use the criminal justice system and repression to silence peaceful dissent, while failing to ensure accountability for violations of rights.

“The suspension of Twitter in Nigeria is inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international human rights obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

The coalition urged the international community to publicly condemn the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria and put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to reverse the decision.

The post Amnesty International, SERAP, 69 Other CSOs Ask Buhari To Reverse Twitter Ban appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – Civil society organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project; and 176 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja over the government’s suspension of microblogging platform, Twitter.

The suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21 was filed on Tuesday by Solicitor to SERAP and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN.

SERAP also argued that the “suspension of Twitter is aimed at intimidating and stopping Nigerians from using Twitter and other social media platforms to assess government policies, expose corruption, and criticize acts of official impunity by the agents of the Federal Government.”

In the suit, SERAP and the concerned Nigerians sought, “An order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing its suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and subjecting anyone including media houses, broadcast stations using Twitter in Nigeria, to harassment, intimidation, arrest and criminal prosecution, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The Plaintiffs also contended that “if this application is not urgently granted, the Federal Government will continue to arbitrarily suspend Twitter and threaten to impose criminal and other sanctions on Nigerians, telecommunication companies, media houses, broadcast stations and other people using Twitter in Nigeria, the perpetual order sought in this suit might be rendered nugatory.”

Last week, the regime of the President suspended Twitter operations in the country citing the “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

The Buhari regime has since come under fire for what many termed as a restriction of the right of expression. The international community including the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, amongst others have since knocked the Buhari regime for the action but the Federal Government has been unyielding in its stance insisting that the sovereignty of the West African nation must be respected by the tech giant in San Francisco.

The post Twitter Ban: SERAP Drags Buhari To ECOWAS Court, Hires Falana appeared first on Tech Digest News.