Telecom
Experts harp on need to balance innovation with regulation in fintech space
At the recently held 10th edition of the Information Communications and Telecommunication Exhibition (ICTEL Expo), industry experts have emphasized the critical need to strike a balance between innovation and regulation in the fintech sector. The flagship event, organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), with the theme, ‘New Tech: Threats and Opportunities’, brought together key players in the technology and telecommunications and financial services industries.
Panelists at the 10th edition of the LCCI ICTEL Expo on the impact of regulations on fintech operations and innovation.
This year’s edition reflects Nigeria’s present journey towards a self-sustaining and productive digital economy; highlighting the transformative power of emerging technologies, mitigating the associated risks and exploring the endless possibilities they present.
The focus on fintech and telecoms sectors, evaluating their operations, challenges, yearnings and how to improve their services and productivity derives from the critical way in which they are deeply embedded in our lives today.
During a panel discussion on the impact of regulations on fintech operations and innovation, Partnerships Specialist Moniepoint Inc, Emmanuel Abadi, alongside other industry leaders, made a compelling case for increased collaboration across the fintech ecosystem.
Abadi stressed the importance of finding equilibrium between fostering innovation and implementing necessary regulations to ensure stability and consumer protection in the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.
“The regulatory landscape in Nigeria is evolving in a good way especially to the extent that we have hundreds of fintechs that are driving some of the mandates of the CBN today.
“At Moniepoint, we are very passionate about powering the dreams of millions of business owners and the individuals that they support and we have seen that financial inclusion has grown and thrived on the strength of existing regulation.
“We understand the imperative of using regulation as the lynchpin for driving stability in the nation’s economy at large, as well as the need to deepen consumer protection by building systems that will increase the public and regulator’s trust in the services that we as fintechs provide.
“Thankfully, there are channels in place that facilitate information exchange between the regulators and the players, and this has helped us a great deal,” Abadi noted.
Abadi also took the opportunity to showcase Moniepoint’s significant contributions to advancing the government’s socio-economic agenda, as evidenced by the launch of a definitive report around the informal economy, partnerships with the CAC, SMEDAN and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment whilst underscoring the potential of fintech solutions to drive positive change in Nigeria’s financial services landscape.
The discussants also called on the need to have targeted guidelines that cater to the nuances and peculiarities of the fintechs and other innovative players, as against the current practice where majority of the rules in place are the same ones developed and applicable to the traditional financial institutions.
They maintained that regular and collaborative engagement between the fintechs and the regulators can fast track the formulation of regulatory guidelines that will be proactive and grow the industry.
The session which was moderated by Hakeem Olajide, CEO, Ascentree Services Ltd also had Ochanya Dan-Ugo, Director /Group Chief Risk Officer, Unified Payments and Seun Folorunso, AGM Projects & Relationships, FintechNGR as co-panelists.
The two-day expo featured a diverse array of activities, including special presentations, masterclasses, product demonstrations, exhibitions, and pitch sessions. These events provided attendees with valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the information and communication technology sector.
Special guests at the event included President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, FCA; Engr Leye Kupoluyi, Deputy President, LCCI; VP and Chairperson, Trade Promotion Board, Abimbola Olashore and Director-General, Chinyere Almona.
The ICTEL Expo, now in its tenth year, continues to serve as a crucial platform for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the ICT and fintech sectors in Nigeria.
As the fintech industry continues to evolve rapidly, the insights shared at this event underscore the importance of ongoing dialogue between innovators, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure a thriving and responsible fintech ecosystem in Nigeria.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that Nigeria’s internet usage reached a record 1.24 million terabytes in November 2025.
According to the latest data from the NCC, the figure rose modestly from 1.235 million terabytes in October, reflecting steady growth in digital activity across the country.
Broadband penetration in Nigeria crossed the halfway mark in November 2025, reaching 50.58 per cent, up from 45.61 per cent in January, the telecoms regulator reported.
The figure, however, falls short of the 70 per cent coverage target outlined in the National Broadband Plan 2020–2025, which expires this month.
The country had roughly 109 million broadband subscriptions by November. Growth has been uneven, hindered by infrastructure and regulatory constraints, including frequent fibre-optic vandalism that triggers 30 to 43 network cuts daily, high right-of-way fees, and declining subscriber numbers earlier in the year.
Expansion of mobile networks, particularly 3G and 4G services, alongside limited 5G rollouts in urban centres, affordable smartphones, and competitive data plans, has driven uptake.
Investments in the National Communications Backbone and private-sector initiatives have also improved access, especially in underserved areas.
While Nigeria is gradually improving digital inclusion, achieving the original broadband plan remains challenging due to high infrastructure costs, coverage limitations, and deployment hurdles.
The NCC maintains that continued investment in mobile networks and broadband infrastructure will sustain gradual growth in the sector.
Commenting on the development, some Nigerian analysts attributed the surge to the broader mobile and broadband adoption and the growing appetite for streaming, online learning and other digital services.
According to the analysts, the figures suggest that internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity for both business and leisure, underscoring the slow but steady expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has named the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) among the top three Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government with the Best Ranking in Website Performance for 2025.
L-R: Head Special Projects, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Salamatu Andu; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Engr. Abaraham Oshadame; Director General Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Head Customer Support Service, Galaxy Backbone, Rosemary Ehize; Secretary to the ES. Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Tahir Aminu at the BPSR award ceremony for top four MDAs in BPSR Website Performance and Ranking 2025 at the BPSR office on Tuesday, 23rd December, 2025.
This is coming barely three weeks after the telecom regulator was recognized as one of the top five best-performing Federal Government agencies for 2025 by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) – a testament to the Commission’s consistency in investment in technology for ensuring efficient service delivery.
In the BPSR 2024/2025 scorecard ranking of agencies’ websites, the NCC came second in the ranking, trailing behind Galaxy Backbone Limited, which came first while the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) clinched the third position, from a pool of 235 MDAs, whose website were evaluated.
BPSR deployed 14 evaluation criteria in include MDA’s website compliance with .gov.ng domain name, appearance and aesthetics (look and feel) of the website, content, relevance to MDAs mandate/government policy and the website’ structure.
Others include website’s responsiveness (device compatibility), security, load time, usability/ease of navigation, availability/uptime, functionality, interactivity, accessibility and capacity building.
The recognition was announced at the official release of Federal Government 2024/2025 Scorecard Ranking for MDAs’ Website held at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium in Abuja on Monday (December 22, 2025) while the award presentation took place at BPSR’s Office on Tuesday (December 23, 2025).
The award, which is an important index metric of the National e-Government Masterplan for determining the Nigeria e-Government Status, was received by the Commission in recognition of its commitment to maintaining a world-class website that enhances service delivery to the citizens.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, appreciated the BPSR for the recognition, describing the award as “another encouragement for the Commission to be a better public service institution leveraging digital platforms such as our web presence to enhance public service delivery to our various stakeholders, thereby implementing the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy direction.”
While presenting the award to the NCC, alongside other two agencies, BPSR’s Director-General, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended the top three for their proactive decisions in maintaining world-class websites, which are compliant with the Federal Government’s policy direction in effective and efficient service delivery to the citizens.
According to the DG, the 2024/2025 MDA’s websites’ ranking represents a collective effort of federal public institutions in Nigeria to be transparent, accountable and open in governance, as well as a confirmation to align with global best practices in service delivery to the citizens.
Developed about six years ago, Arabi said as a result of the annual ranking, more public institutions have indicated readiness to embrace reforms, and align with the policy direction of the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda on improve governance for effective service delivery, as introduced by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The ideals of harnessing and deploying technological tools for service delivery has become imperative following the COVID pandemic, and distortions of socio-economic system of nations, culminating in the evolution of competitiveness, cost effectiveness, and agile governance.
“As engine room of governance, it behoves on us in the public service to perform our statutory duties and we must put in place technological innovations and standardized websites to operate services as well as deliver service needs to citizens,” he said.
The Scorecard exercise, he said, is part of the BPSR reform broader function of conducting research on reform implementation efforts and presenting ‘best practice’ models to the entire Public Service, and to among others, improve access to government information, facilitate seamless financial transaction, eliminate corruption and cyber theft, as well as facilitate access to government services.
Speaking on the rigorous nature of the exercise that produced the top three winners, the DG said “in the past few weeks members of the Scorecard Jury drawn from inter-Ministerial Agencies, had worked tirelessly to mill websites of selected MDAs through a rigorous process of enduring criteria for the ranking and the outcome had also passed through a quality assurance mechanism to validate the outcome.”
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has dismissed reports that bank accounts not linked to a Tax Identification Number (TIN) will be frozen or automatically debited from January 1, 2026.
Taiwo Oyedele
Oyedele described the claims as false and misleading, warning Nigerians against panic over misinformation surrounding recent tax and financial reforms.
In a post on his X handle Tuesday morning, he wrote: “Don’t let anyone manipulate you. Your bank account is safe. Misinformation makes you panic and fear a reform that is designed to help you.
“When they tell you that your account will be frozen or automatically debited from January 2026, ask them for the evidence in the new law. Be wise.”
He stressed that no provision in the new tax laws authorises the freezing of bank accounts, adding that the rumours are part of widespread misrepresentation of the reforms.
The committee chairman reiterated that the reforms are intended to simplify Nigeria’s tax system and ease the burden on ordinary citizens, not to impose punitive measures on bank customers.
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