E-Financial
Bluecode Targets Nigeria’s informal Economy in New Expansion Drive

The Bluecode payments solution is about to go live in Nigeria with two partner banks, according to Murray Gardiner, managing director of Bluecode Africa.

Gardiner explained that, Bluecode is a “pull-based” payment system.
It works like a cheque or a credit card in that it gives a merchant a means with which to “pull” a payment out of a customer’s bank account. That contrasts with “push” payments which are initiated by the customer.
For Gardiner, the difference is crucial. While push payments provide no extra information to a bank, pull payments are data-rich. That means they can open the door for the bank to selling a wider range of financial services to merchants.
Insurance for crops, buildings, equipment and even life cover could then be sold, said Gardiner.
In a country such as Nigeria, the fact that about 65% of the economy is informal makes it “opaque” to banks, he argues. Merchant pull payments “increase the size of the addressable market for banks.”
For merchants, the value added from digital payments “must exceed cash removal. They really need more services.”
The payments solution, Gardiner argued , helps to achieve a viable price point for both merchants and banks. “It’s very difficult without a digital channel.”
Bluecode is in talks with a total 30 banks in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. The aim, Gardiner said, is to “light up the informal economy.”
Bluecode was founded in Austria, and the solution is widely used in Austrian food stores. In December 2019, the company raised 12 million euros in financing before expanding into Africa this year.
The system works by scanning the barcodes straight onto a smartphone. Bluecode doesn’t store any information about the client, or their bank account.
Development in Africa hasn’t been hampered by COVID-19. Gardiner has been able to source new relationships remotely rather than in person. The experience, he says, show that “the culture was driving (business) travel, not necessity.”
Europe, Gardiner said, has “lost control over its payments destiny” through its reliance on Visa and Mastercard.
He argued that Africa has the opportunity to avoid creating an “offshore dependency” which is impossible for regulators to manage.
- Digital payments which involve data leaving the country, he said, create exposure to the risk that the destination country will at some point be subject to international sanctions.
- Banks will suffer “disintermediation” and lose potential customers if they let “Trojan Horse” credit card companies manage their transactions, said Gardiner.
- In regulatory terms, Gardiner saw Nigeria as being more promising than South Africa, where local fintech is “locked out” by the dominance of card payments. Gardiner traced this to the long-standing relationship between banks and the card companies.
- Bluecode has two local tech partners in Lagos, and Gardiner expects to be holding talks with regulators there.
- “If it works in Nigeria, it works anywhere,” he said.
Bottom line
Pull payments give banks more access to merchant data – the hard part will be designing products those merchants can afford to buy.
E-Financial
MoneyMaster Enhances App, Rewards Users with Data and Airtime Bonuses

MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank has introduced a refreshed mobile banking experience designed to make purchasing airtime and data more convenient and straightforward for customers.

As part of the rollout, customers will enjoy added value on their transactions. Airtime purchases on the Glo network come with a 100 percent bonus, while data purchases attract a 10 percent bonus, giving users amazing rewards on each purchase.
With this revamp, the app is now much easier to use, especially for airtime purchases. From selecting accounts to choosing amounts, the process is more seamless, with clearer options and fewer steps. Data plans are now neatly organized into categories such as daily, weekly, and monthly, making it easier for users to find what they need without endless scrolling.
Beyond the improved layout, customers now have more flexibility in how they recharge. Lower airtime denominations have been introduced, giving users the freedom to choose amounts that better suit their needs, while navigation has been adjusted to be quicker and more intuitive.
Speaking on the update, the bank’s Head of Business, Tajudeen Omokhide, explained that the goal is to make payments as simple and seamless as possible. According to him, customers expect speed, clarity, and affordability, and these improvements are part of the bank’s ongoing effort to meet those expectations. He also encouraged both existing and new users to get the latest version of the app.
These updates are a testament to MoneyMaster’s broader mission of developing practical, relevant products for everyday life. Promoted by Globacom and licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the bank offers mobile wallets, savings accounts, individual current accounts, and business banking services.
MoneyMaster continues to position itself as a flexible, customer-centric platform, enabling over 4,000 individual and business billers to manage payments, access financial services, and stay connected with ease.
E-Financial
CBN Directs IMTOs to Open Naira Settlement Accounts

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) operating in the country to open and maintain naira settlement accounts with authorised dealer banks, as part of efforts to tighten oversight of diaspora remittances and improve transparency in the foreign exchange market.

The directive was contained in a circular dated March 24, 2026, signed by Dr Musa Nakorji, director of the Trade and Exchange Department, and addressed to IMTOs, authorised dealer banks and the general public.
The circular was published on the apex bank’s website on Tuesday.
The CBN said the measure is aimed at “enhancing diaspora remittances, strengthening transparency, traceability, and effective monitoring of all transactions.”
It stated that “all IMTOs are hereby directed to open naira settlement accounts and ensure that all transactions are routed strictly through their designated settlement accounts, maintained with Authorised Dealer Banks in Nigeria.”
Under the new rule, all inflows, beneficiary payments and related settlements linked to international money transfers are to be processed solely through these accounts.
IMTOs may, however, operate multiple settlement accounts across different banks in line with their operational needs.
The circular also introduced tighter controls on how the accounts can be funded, stating that they “shall only be credited with remittance flows and proceeds of foreign exchange conversions by licensed IMTOs (or their agents)” within the Nigerian foreign exchange market.
Operators are required to clearly designate the accounts and submit the details to the CBN, with updates provided periodically where necessary.
To improve market operations, authorised dealer banks are permitted to process foreign currency transfers from IMTO settlement accounts to other banks and approved participants, including licensed Bureau De Change operators.
The apex bank further directed IMTOs to adopt market-reflective pricing by referencing the Bloomberg BMatch system. It said IMTOs “shall observe real-time market prices from the Bloomberg BMATCH and utilise this as guidance for pricing transactions with their customers and Authorised Dealers.”
According to the CBN, this approach is expected to “improve price discovery, reduce information asymmetry between IMTOs and banks, and encourage increased participation in the official FX market.”
The bank added that all operators must maintain proper transaction records for regulatory checks and comply fully with anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and counter-proliferation financing rules.
“This directive takes effect from May 1, 2026. Please note and ensure compliance,” the circular stated.
The move shows the CBN’s push to channel remittance inflows through formal banking channels, boost liquidity in the official foreign exchange market and strengthen regulatory oversight of cross-border transactions.
E-Financial
DLM Capital Group’s AAA-Rated Sovereign Bond-Backed Composite Notes (“SBCNS”) Strengthens Investor Confidence with Successful First Principal & Interest Payment

Foremost Development Investment Bank, DLM Capital Group has reinforced its position as a leader in innovative fixed income solutions with the successful payment of the first principal and interest (coupon) to investors under its Sovereign Bond-Backed Composite Notes (“SBCNs”) issuance.

This milestone, alongside the consistent delivery of quarterly performance reports, underscores the Group’s commitment to transparency, capital preservation, and investor confidence.
DLM SPV PLC’s 40.62% Hold-to-Maturity return ₦7.30 billion (Tranche A) and 19.07% ₦1.70 billion (Tranche B) Plain Vanilla Series 1 Notes, issued under its ₦30.00 billion Medium-Term Notes Programme and developed by Sonnie Babatunde Ayere, Group CEO of DLM Capital, was recently listed on the FMDQ Exchange with the Tranche A bond becoming the most valuable AAA-rated corporate bond on the market.
This represents a new class of structured debt instruments designed to meet both issuer funding needs and investor expectations. As a platform widely recognised for supporting innovative debt structures, FMDQ provides an enabling environment for instruments like DLM’s SBCNs to thrive.
At launch in July 2025, DLM SBCNs, which achieved a 9-notch upgrade from BBB- (GCR Sponsor ratings at issuance) without securitisation, entered the market with a healthy degree of skepticism, as is typical with pioneering financial instruments. However, after six months of post-issuance, DLM Funding SPV Plc has delivered on its promise by comfortably and successfully meeting its first principal and coupon obligations to its investors.
This performance milestone has significantly strengthened market confidence and validated the robustness of the structure. The notes are rated AAA by Global Credit Rating and AAA by DataPro Limited, reflecting their strong credit fundamentals and low-risk profile. Designed to prioritise capital preservation, liquidity, and above competitive market returns, the instrument stands out as one of the most compelling corporate fixed income offerings for institutional investors currently available in the market.
Investor response has been notably strong and institutional investors who are beginning to recognize the value of a well-structured de-risked, high-return and, high-quality fixed income investment backed by a credible issuer with a proven track record. The combination of timely coupon payments, high credit ratings, and ongoing transparency has positioned SBCNs as a preferred option for investors seeking stability and performance in today’s evolving financial landscape.
As investor interest continues to build towards Series 2, DLM SBCNs are not only demonstrating resilience but also setting a benchmark for innovation in Nigeria’s debt capital markets. In its role as a Development Investment Bank (“DIB”), DLM Capital Group remains committed to delivering structured solutions that align with investor needs whilst maintaining the highest standards of governance and execution.
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