In a move to strengthen Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector, Africa’s all-in-one financial platform for businesses and their customers, Moniepoint Inc. says it is transforming how petrol stations across the country manage payments, access credit, and track inventory through innovative financial solutions.

As the largest distribution network for financial services in Nigeria, the leading banking and payments platform trusted by million in its latest case study titled, “Fueling the Nation: How Moniepoint Powers Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry”, reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions and business management tools to improve operational efficiency in Nigeria’s downstream sector.

The study released recently examined how petrol stations play a crucial role as vital distribution points for fuel in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited access to alternative energy sources. Over 90 per cent of passenger and freight movement in Nigeria is by road, literally fueled by petrol stations that facilitate an average of 41 to 47 million litres of petrol every day.

The downstream oil and gas sector has been considered as the lifeblood of the Nigerian economy, however, for decades, petrol station operators have grappled with the “T+1” settlement cycle, where funds from card payments are only accessible the next day. In an industry with razor-thin margins and the need for immediate restocking, this delay often leads to “dead tanks” and lost revenue.

According to the case study, Moniepoint has bridged this gap by introducing same-day settlements, ensuring that station owners can access their funds instantly to pay suppliers and keep pumps running. The report further reveals that 90.9% of petrol stations now utilize POS terminals as standard infrastructure, with digital channels accounting for 43% of all fuel payments nationwide.

The Moniepoint case study on Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector provides very insightful commentary on critical aspects of running a petrol station, including payment systems, inventory management, and funding challenges.

Giving insight into the report and its relevance to the nation’s energy segment, Managing Director, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, Babatunde Olofin, noted that the study seeks to deepen policy engagement, provide actionable intelligence on critical success factors needed for the nation’s socio-economic growth across different verticals.

Olofin noted, “We are pleased to release this comprehensive report on Nigeria’s downstream sector. Moniepoint’s reason for being is to create financial happiness and power dreams. Reports like this move us in that direction, enabling us to support critical infrastructure that keeps the nation moving.

“Looking at the relevance, with data on their business transactions and our business management tools, petrol stations can effectively plan their inventory and availability, knowing exactly when to stock up and ensuring operations run smoothly to serve more customers.

“By providing fuel retailers with the financial tools they need, Moniepoint is creating a future where access to reliable fuel distribution is improved and represents more than a fundamental right for all in an equitable and efficient system.”

Some other Key insights from the report include: The Liquidity Gap: 1-in-3 station owners identify access to credit as their biggest recurring challenge.

Credit Success: Moniepoint has disbursed millions of Naira in working capital to the sector with a 99.81% repayment success rate.

These tools have enabled nearly three in five fuel stations nationwide to transition from cash-dependent, manually-operated businesses into digitally-enabled enterprises with reliable access to both payments’ infrastructure and growth capital.

This study by Moniepoint comes on the heels of others like the previous case studies on family-owned businesses, South-East’s Onitsha Market, community pharmacies, women-owned businesses, North-East agriculture and the definitive Informal Economy Report, which collectively demonstrated how digital payment solutions are transforming Nigeria’s commercial landscape across diverse sectors and market structures.

Moniepoint’s ongoing commitment to financial inclusion and economic development has positioned it as a catalyst for growth across Nigeria and beyond. The company processes billions in transactions monthly and continues to expand its reach, supporting millions of businesses with payments, banking, credit, and business management solutions.

Open Access Data Centres (OADC) Lagos has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s data protection and digital transformation agenda through its sponsorship and active participation in the Nigeria Data Protection Commission’s (NDPC) National Privacy Week Summit.

The National Privacy Week Summit, organised by the NDPC, convened policymakers, regulators, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to promote data privacy awareness, strengthen compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), and advance conversations around data security, sovereignty, and responsible data governance.

As a sponsor of the event, OADC Lagos demonstrated its continued support for the Federal Government’s drive toward local data hosting and data domiciliation, which are increasingly critical to safeguarding sensitive information, enhancing regulatory compliance, and building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Through its carrier-neutral, Tier III Design certified data centre in Lekki, Lagos, OADC provides secure, resilient, and compliant infrastructure that enables government institutions and private sector organisations to host and manage data locally while meeting international best practices.

Commenting on the engagement, Adesola Adesugba, Country Marketing Manager, Open Access Data Centres Nigeria, said: “We are proud to have supported the Nigeria Data Protection Commission through the National Privacy Week Summit and to stand alongside the government in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives.

“Strengthening local data hosting and domiciliation is fundamental to national data sovereignty, improved security, and sustainable digital growth, and OADC Lagos remains committed to enabling this future.”

OADC’s participation at National Privacy Week Summit underscores its role as a trusted digital infrastructure partner to government and enterprise, supporting secure cloud connectivity, regulatory compliance, and the long-term development of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Open Access Data Centres is part of the WIOCC Group and operates open-access, world-class data centres across Africa, serving cloud providers, network operators, enterprises, and public sector institutions.

Over the past 10 years, families have experienced shifts in structure and a perceived increase in fragmented interactions at home, largely driven by the pervasive use of technology and changing social norms. What does the next decade hold in store?

According to a global survey* by Kaspersky’s market research center, an overwhelming 81% of people believe digitalisation will fundamentally alter families’ joint pastimes within the next decade. This shift points to a future where bonding is mediated by advanced technology, creating new rituals and challenges in equal measure.

Screen time is family time, but it has its risks

Nearly half (48%) of all respondents envision AI-powered bedtime stories becoming a norm, a figure that rises to 53% among 18–34-year-olds. Today, apps and smart devices offer AI-narrated tales with customisable characters and plot twists.

For the busy parent, it presents a novel aid, for the child, an endlessly patient, interactive storyteller.

Meanwhile, with 31% of families anticipating children opting for digital pets over real ones, it seems that ‘man’s best friend’ just got its first update.

It should be noted, however, that while AI has the potential to enrich a child’s life, it necessitates vigilance. When children interact with AI, for stories or learning, parents must be proactive.

Select services with strong privacy policies that do not unnecessarily store or misuse a child’s data or voice interactions and further enhance control with digital parenting assistants like Kaspersky Safe Kids to restrict content and balance screen time.

Parents would be well placed to treat AI interactions as a new digital playground where they can use parental controls to limit session duration, choose vetted, age-appropriate AI story platforms, and most importantly, maintain an open dialogue about what these stories are and how they are created. Explain to children that an AI is a tool, not a friend, and encourage them to report any strange or uncomfortable interactions, just as they would in the physical world.

The key is to ensure AI complements human interaction, not replaces the comfort of a parent’s voice.

Blowing out the digital candles

Another 43% predict family celebrations migrating to video call formats as a standard, not an exception, a trend accelerated by recent global events but now seen as a permanent fixture for dispersed families.

Meanwhile a daring 26% can imagine taking family vacations entirely in virtual reality. This sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but then 10 years ago, the type of generative AI being used today was not widely anticipated.

This fragmented outlook highlights that the future of family digital activity will not arrive as a uniform wave, but as a series of adoptions shaped by cultural openness and digital infrastructure. For security leaders like Kaspersky, this evolving landscape presents new vectors for risk within the most intimate of spaces, the smart home.

Preparing the digital home for tomorrow’s family

43% of all respondents foresee home robots as family members. Moving beyond voice-activated personal assistants or autonomous vacuum cleaners, these would be embodied AI companions capable of tutoring, playing games, or providing companionship.

In the eyes of hackers, however, every new device, from a VR headset to a robot nanny, is a potential entry point. To keep things secure, change default passwords immediately, ensure all device firmware is regularly updated, and segment your home network.

Use Kaspersky Premium with a Smart Home Monitor which scans users’ home Wi-Fi network 24/7, and shows a list of devices connected to it, including such details as device type, OS and IP address, and alerts when a new or unknown device connects.

As robots, AI, and VR devices become part of the family circle, security must be foundational, not an afterthought.

“The accelerating pace of technology is not fragmenting the family but redefining its shared spaces. The future, as seen by the global majority, is one where digital and physical experiences blend to create new forms of togetherness, from a grandparent joining a birthday party via hologram to a child caring for a digital pet with a sibling across the globe.

“The challenge and opportunity lie in building secure digital environments with intention, ensuring they are safe, respectful, and ultimately, tools that bring us closer,” comments Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel for META at Kaspersky.