General News
Reps Decry Rising Fraudulent Activities Linked to POS
The House of Representatives has raised concern over a surge in fraud linked to Point-of-Sale (POS) operators nationwide. POS terminals are now a popular cash source for businesses and individuals seeking alternatives to ATMs, even though ATM fees are lower.
Speaking at a resumed investigative hearing with fintech stakeholders at the National Assembly Complex on Monday, the Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on the Economic, Regulatory and Security Implications of Cryptocurrency Adoption and POS Operations in Nigeria, Hon. Olufemi Bamisile, lamented what he described as the infiltration of unlicensed crypto-related activities in the sector.
According to him, the Committee has received multiple reports of unprofiled agents, cloned terminals, anonymous transactions, and weak Know-Your-Customer practices, which he said are putting Nigerians at serious risk of financial loss, cybercrime, and security breaches.
“We are concerned about the growing rise in fraud associated with POS operations. Unprofiled agents, cloned terminals, and weak KYC practices continue to expose citizens to preventable dangers.
“There are allegations and credible information that some POS operators now engage in crypto-related services for which they are not licensed. This raises serious red flags around anti-money laundering, terrorism financing, data integrity, and the misuse of instruments originally designed for basic payment services,” he said.
Bamisile added that the Committee had been alerted to the registration of phony companies at the Corporate Affairs Commission, some of which allegedly use the National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number of unsuspecting citizens to open accounts and launder illicit funds through unverified POS channels.
“This highlight weak verification mechanisms and underscores the urgent need for a coordinated oversight framework,” he said.
He also disclosed that the Committee will investigate the storage of sensitive customer data on foreign servers by major fintech companies operating in Nigeria, warning that keeping data outside the country’s jurisdiction undermines regulators’ and security agencies’ ability to conduct audits, trace suspicious transactions, or enforce compliance.
“This has direct national security implications, especially in a sector connected to terrorism financing risks and cyber-enabled crimes,” he said.
Despite the concerns, Bamisile assured operators that the engagement was not a witch-hunt but an effort to rid the sector of practices harmful to the fintech industry.
“Our mandate is clear: to recommend legislation that will deliver a harmonised regulatory framework, stronger security safeguards, improved consumer protection, and an environment where innovation and investment can flourish responsibly,” he said.
The National President of the Association of Digital Payment and POS Operators of Nigeria, Paul Okafor, warned that the POS ecosystem has reached a critical emergency point, with fraud rising to a level that now poses a direct national security threat.
He told lawmakers that while POS operators had increased from 50,000 in 2017 to more than 2.3 million in 2025, regulatory capacity had grown by “less than 10 per cent”.
“This imbalance is what has produced the crisis we are facing today. The regulators, especially the CBN, are not incompetent; they are overwhelmed by the sheer speed and scale of growth.”
Quoting data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, Okafor said POS, banking, and digital-payment channels suffered N17.67bn in fraud losses in 2023, affecting more than 80,000 customers. The situation worsened sharply in 2024, with losses rising to N52.26bn—an increase of N34.59bn in one year.
“More than 38,000 POS fraud cases were officially reported in one year. Unofficially, we estimate that over 70,000 cases go unreported because victims simply give up.
“In some states, security agencies report that nearly 40 per cent of kidnap ransom payments pass through informal POS cash-out channels. This is no longer a fintech issue; this is a national security threat,” he warned.
Okafor urged the Committee to issue a directive compelling the CBN to introduce urgent reforms to stabilise the system.
“If we fail to act, fraud will escalate, kidnappers will continue to exploit the system, Nigerians will lose more money, financial inclusion will collapse, and trust in the financial system will be destroyed. And when trust dies, the financial system dies,” he said.
To restore order, he outlined three measures ADPPON wants implemented immediately: mandatory Nigeria Police Force–NCCC Cybercrime Clearance Certificates for all POS operators; mandatory CAC registration for every POS business; and mandatory membership of recognised trade associations to enforce training, discipline, and self-regulation.
“These are practical, lawful solutions aligned with existing laws and international standards. They can be implemented without creating new legislation,” he told lawmakers.
He cited examples from other countries, noting that India, Kenya, Brazil, South Africa, and the United Kingdom enforce strict oversight to protect their POS ecosystems.
“In Brazil, agent fraud dropped by over 60 per cent after the government mandated police vetting. India, with over five million agents, maintains low fraud rates because verification is non-negotiable. No country leaves its financial system open to millions of operators or puts it in the hands of foreigners without strict controls. Nigeria must not be the exception,” he stressed.
In commemoration of Women’s Month, health-tech platform Myitura has released a new white paper addressing the critical gaps in healthcare financing for women in Nigeria.
Titled “Closing the Gap: Healthcare Financing for Women in Nigeria,” the report highlights how high out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage, and socio-economic factors continue to prevent women from accessing timely healthcare.
According to the report, over 70% of healthcare expenses in Nigeria are paid out-of-pocket, disproportionately affecting women who often delay care due to financial and social constraints.
“When women can afford to take care of their health early, we don’t just save lives; we strengthen families, communities, and the economy,” said Chialuka Kelechi, MyItura’s Chief of Staff.
Key Insights from the White Paper:
- Preventable conditions often escalate due to delayed care
- Women are more likely to deprioritize their own health
- Affordable, structured healthcare financing can significantly improve outcomes
Introducing a Women’s Health Initiative
As part of its commitment, Myitura is launching affordable women-focused health packages (powered by Mediloan), starting at ₦58,180, designed to encourage preventive care and early detection.
The package provides access to:
- Fasting/Random Blood Sugar
- Urinalysis
- Electrolytes
- Urea
- Creatinine
- Pap Smear Submitted slides
- HIV I & II Rapid (Qualitative)
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screening (Rapid)
- Hepatitis C Virus Screening (Rapid)
- Abdominopelvic Ultrasound
- Ongoing support via the Myitura platform
Access:
Women can access these packages by downloading the Myitura app, which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.
Myitura is a health-tech platform focused on improving access to healthcare through financing, technology, and preventive care solutions.
General News
DBI Unveils Nigeria Digital Economy Outlook 2026: Q1 Report Highlights Strategic Trends, Risks
DigitalSENSE Business Intelligence (DBI), powered by ITREALMS Media, has launched the Nigeria Digital Economy Outlook 2026: Q1 Intelligence Report (Executive Edition), delivering vital insights for navigating Nigeria’s fast-paced digital landscape.
This executive summary spotlights trends, risks, and opportunities in telecommunications, fintech, digital infrastructure, policy shifts, and investment flows. It underscores digital transformation’s pivotal role in boosting economic growth, financial inclusion, and nationwide innovation.
DBI Publisher, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, emphasized its value for leaders: “This Executive Edition offers a sharp, strategic view of Nigeria’s digital economy during a pivotal moment. As the sector surges ahead, reliable intelligence is key to seizing opportunities and tackling risks.”
Key highlights include:
Broadband infrastructure expansion.
Surge in digital payments adoption.
Evolving regulations.
Investor pivot to sustainable, profitable ventures.
The report urges action on digital financial inclusion, infrastructure funding, skills training, and public sector digitization.
Freely accessible, the Executive Edition complements the premium Full Edition with in-depth analysis for executives and institutions. Stakeholders can request full access or briefings.
Media & Access Contacts:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.itrealms.com.ng
The on-going construction works at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI’s Renewable Energy Industrial Park, Gora, Nasarawa State is gathering momentum as the project is envisioned to address the country’s energy needs.
NASENI’s Renewable Energy Industrial Park, Gora, Nasarawa State
The project occupying a 40-hectare park designed as a multi-energy hub will help curb capital flight and save foreign exchange expenditure by enabling local production of key renewable energy components such as solar panels, mounting racks, wind systems and biomass technologies.
Speaking during an inspection visit on the project site on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Special Adviser to the Executive Vice Chairman on Renewable Energy, Engr. Suyud Abdullahi Muhammad, who also serves as the Gora Project Manager, disclosed that the initiative is designed to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported renewable energy equipment.
“There will be a wind assembly plant, small hydro power equipment production, and solar panel manufacturing; Renewable energy goes beyond just solar, and this park reflects that broader vision,” he said.
Abdullahi noted that the project aligns with NASENI’s goal of reducing energy poverty in Nigeria, where over 80 million citizens remain off-grid, while many connected to the national grid continue to experience inadequate power supply.
The Special Adviser also emphasised on the project’s industrialisation potential, highlighting its role in job creation and value chain development. The park is expected to generate 2,000 direct jobs, with an additional 50,000 indirect employment opportunities across supporting industries when completed.
“This initiative will localise the renewable energy value chain. Instead of relying on imports, Nigeria will begin to produce and eventually export these technologies, starting with the West African market and scaling up to the rest of the continent,” he added.
On sustainability and long-term viability, he revealed that the project is being executed in collaboration with private sector players, academia and other stakeholders, in line with NASENI’s “3Cs” principle of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation.
The ongoing construction is being handled by about 35 contracting firms, each handling specific components at varying levels of execution such as Multipurpose Halls for industrial productions, Research and Development (R&D) Centre, Knowledge Park, Energy Centre, Workshops, Researchers Lodge, Studio Apartments, Clinic, Restaurant, Wellness Centre, Solar Farm, Drivers Lounge, Gate House, Internal roads and drainage system and Fencing.
The Gora Renewable Energy Industrial Energy Park is considered a key component of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at strengthening local manufacturing, enhancing energy security and positioning Nigeria as a renewable energy hub in Africa.
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