General News
NCAA Set Agenda for National Facilitation Committee

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has inaugurated the National Facilitation Committee. It is expected to serve as a vehicle for carrying out the National Facilitation Programme.
This is pursuant to the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) stipulating that each contracting state shall establish a National Facilitation Committee.
Mr Sam Adurogboye, deputy general manager, Public Relations, (NCAA), in a press statement at the weekend, said that the responsibilities of the National Facilitation Committee is to designate Customs airports in Nigeria, develop procedures through which operators of scheduled and non-scheduled services may request permission to land or depart from customs airports and arrange for border inspection services at the customs airports.
Develop programmes for control of security problems such as documents fraud, illegal migration, smuggling and touting. Support the interested border control agencies in the establishment and maintenance of effective inspection systems at the airports and in their efforts to rationalise their respective procedures.
He added that, It shall also coordinate preparations for clearing large numbers of passengers, especially during holy pilgrimages.
Establish, review and amend as necessary the national policies regarding prevention of the spread of contagious diseases by air, especially aircraft disinfection, public health related quarantine programmes and screening measures to be applied in a health emergency.
The Nigerian National Facilitation Committee (NNFC) shall meet bi-annually except in cases of emergency. Venue of the meeting shall be determined by the chairman of the committee.
In corollary, the Airport Facilitation shall meet every quarterly and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) shall serve as the secretariat of the NNFC.
Alhaji Adamu expressed happiness that the committee has finally been inaugurated as it had been signed into law since 2007.
At the inauguration which was held at the NCAA’s Annex Conference Facility, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, the Director of Consumer Protection (DCP) who represented the Ag.Director General, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka said the committee is composed of the Heads of government agencies and the chief executive officers of the national organisations representing the aircraft operators and airport operators.
However, Alhaji Adamu stated that for the purpose of carrying out the work of the committee, the members may designate one or more middle level management staff in their respective organisations to represent them in meetings at the working group level.
The primary responsibility for the National Facilitation Committee is domiciled with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Nigeria.
He added that the purpose of the National Facilitation Programme is to implement the Chicago Convention mandate that contracting states shall provide for and facilitate the border – crossing formalities that must be accomplished with respect to aircraft engaged in international operations, their passengers, crews and cargo.
The DCP continued by revealing that membership of the committee which will be headed by the NCAA Director General, shall comprise of the following, Aviation Ministry, Customs, Immigration, Police, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Agriculture/Environment, Security and Narcotics, Public Health, FAAN, NAMA, Tourism, International Airlines and National Aviation Security Committee.
Similarly, the corresponding Airport Facilitation Committees shall be headed by the Airport Manager and the representatives of these agencies, Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, State Security Service, NDLEA (Narcotics), Port Health, FAAN, NAMA, Tourism and International airlines.
The Nigerian National Facilitation Committee (NNFC) shall meet bi-annually except in cases of emergency. Venue of the meeting shall be determined by the chairman of the committee.
In corollary, the Airport Facilitation shall meet every quarterly and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) shall serve as the secretariat of the NNFC.
Alhaji Adamu expressed happiness that the committee has finally been inaugurated as it had been signed into law since 2007.
All constituted members of the committee were fully represented including Mr. Justus Wariya, the Director of Air Transport Regulation (DATR), Mr. Polly Okoronkwo, Company Secretary, Mrs.Anthonia Vincent, General Manager, Economic Regulation and the staff of the secretariat from NCAA.
General News
Cellulant Taps Freddie Oduro to Lead Enterprise Payments Expansion in Ghana

Cellulant, a leading Pan-African payments company enabling seamless digital transactions across Africa, has appointed Mr. Freddie Oduro as its new Country Manager for Ghana.

Mr. Freddie Oduro, New Country Manager for Ghana.
Freddie’s appointment is a key step in Cellulant’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in priority markets by accelerating the acquisition of in-country enterprise businesses and strengthening its position as the payments partner of choice in Africa.
Freddie brings over a decade of commercial and strategic leadership experience in the telecommunications and financial services sectors, with expertise in sales, business operations, and market expansion.
In his new role, he will drive merchant acquisition, strengthening partnerships, oversee collections and payout operations, while ensuring strong internal controls and regulatory compliance.
He joins Cellulant from Payaza and previously served as Sales Director at Cellulant, where he helped significantly expand the company’s footprint in Ghana.
Cellulant has been powering payments in Ghana for leading brands in sectors like e-commerce, utilities, oil and gas and retail, helping them offer their customers a wide range of secure digital payment options.
“We are happy to welcome Freddie back to the Cellulant family,” says Richard Gesimba, Chief Revenue Officer at Cellulant. “Ghana remains a critical market for us, with immense potential driven by rising digital payments adoption.
“As we sharpen our focus on in-country enterprise customers, Freddie’s leadership and industry insight make him the ideal person to steer our Ghana operations.”
The appointment comes at a transformative time for the company. Following a strategic shift between late 2023 and early 2024, focused on streamlining operations, doubling down on enterprise payments, and strengthening customer intimacy, Cellulant achieved profitability in 2024 and continues to build on this momentum.
The company now processes close to 4.5 million transactions daily for businesses across Africa, reinforcing its position as a fintech leader.
“I am honoured to return to Cellulant and lead the Ghana team at such a defining moment,” says Freddie, Country Manager for Cellulant Ghana. “Ghana presents a tremendous opportunity.
“We will ramp up our efforts to sign on more local merchants, strengthen our compliance and control frameworks, and introduce innovative solutions like Tingg Edupay, our automated school fee management solution that eliminates reconciliation delays by validating payments in real time and instantly updating student accounts.
“We will build on Cellulant’s strong foundation to deliver real value, reliability, and economic impact.”
Ghana’s digital payments sector continues to grow steadily, supported by increased mobile money usage and a progressive regulatory environment. Between January and October 2025, the value of mobile money transactions hit about GH¢ 3.6 trillion, up sharply from GH¢ 2.37 trillion in the same period of 2024.
Registered mobile money accounts now exceed 79 million, demonstrating strong consumer and business confidence in digital financial services and in turn creating many opportunities for payment innovation.
This leadership appointment underscores Cellulant’s commitment to building a resilient, high-performance organisation geared towards playing a pivotal role in the next era of Africa’s digital economy.
Looking ahead to 2026, Cellulant plans to further enhance the user experience on its payment platform, Tingg, and expand its footprint across Ghana.
General News
Top Nigerian Startups Secure Funding Boost @ iHatch Demo Day Awards

Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.

The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
General News
Fidelity Bank to Host Virtual Masterclass on New Tax Law

Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.

Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
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