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COVID-19: E-commerce companies cry out under weight of restrictions by Govt security operatives
At a time when global players in the e-commerce sector have seen the peculiarities of their operations come to the fore in helping governments and people in other climes observe social distancing and stay in supply of essential items without leaving their homes, the Nigerian e-Commerce sector is instead buckling under the weight of heavy restrictions by state actors and law enforcement officials; leading to no end of frustrations for players in the sector.
E-commerce giants in other climes such as Amazon and Alibaba, for instance, have played important roles in the fight against COVID-19 in other parts of the world, working in concert with the government in helping people ensure social distancing through wholesome adoption of online and contact-less shopping.
However, investigations reveal a sorry tale of huge pains and frustrations among e-Commerce players in Nigeria, in stark contrast to what obtains elsewhere.
The likes of Konga and Jumia, two of the biggest operators in the Nigerian market have endured difficulties at the hands of government enforcement agents, despite being the best means of contact-less shopping that can help in curbing the spread of the virus.
Research shows that in a number of countries and even in Africa, e-Commerce players have been supported and encouraged by the government in the fight against COVID-19.
But here in Nigeria, the situation is different.
The Nigerian government and some state governors have not only failed in openly backing the operations of e-Commerce players as an essential ally in the COVID-19 crisis, but a situation where security operatives are frustrating the operations of e-commerce companies due to the ongoing lockdown and border closures has further worsened matters.
A source at Konga, who spoke on condition of anonymity provided some insights into the dire situation.
‘‘E-Commerce is a cost-intensive venture all over the world, one which relies on a number of very expensive applications which must be constantly paid for.
“Konga, for instance, is burning a lot of cash to keep the business going and employing thousands of Nigerians directly and indirectly.
“Yet, we are taking huge losses in meeting the commitments to our customers, many of whom rely on us for essential deliveries.
“Our merchants, who we also rely on in meeting the numerous online orders, cannot open their shops due to the lockdown.
“These merchants are individuals who have all being trained on essential safety procedures such as wearing masks, gloves and social distancing and, as such, pose little infection risk.
“In addition, we have to endure undue delays in the course of reaching the customers. For instance, a truck making essential intra-state deliveries is often delayed for a minimum of six days, thereby causing huge pains for the company and consumers,’’ he lamented.
‘‘Even when granted exemption letters, the situation on the streets is far from ideal. We have encountered severe delays and huge frustration as a result of the overzealous actions of some security operatives who sometimes refuse to grant access to delivery personnel or in other cases, even turn them back. The government needs to do something about this.’’
Also, feedback from sources at Jumia, who pleaded not to be named, paints a picture of frustrations.
‘‘In virtually every other country, e-Commerce is being deployed as a critical weapon in the fight against COVID-19. Consumers are encouraged to go online and leverage e-Commerce for contact-less shopping by staying at home and receiving their essential deliveries including groceries at their doorsteps.
“Shoppers can also pay via e-channels which obliterates the use of cash or POS. But in Nigeria, we have hardly seen any form of institutional support in this regard.
‘‘In fact, we have seen a situation where delivery is constantly being hampered by the harassment of our riders, vendors and delivery men on a daily basis.
“This happens to both intra-state and inter-state deliveries. As a result, deliveries that should take 24 hours due to the absence of traffic on the roads now stretch for days or don’t even happen at all in some cases.
“Also, our staff, who actually are essential service providers, equally face serious difficulties and in some cases, harassments by security operatives on their way to and from work.
Continuing, the source stated: ‘‘Government has a critical role to play in nipping this worrisome situation in the bud as the operations of most e-commerce companies are suffering.
‘Worse still, when consumers encounter undue delays for an item ordered online, they would naturally turn to offline markets, thereby worsening the risk of community transmission of the virus.’’
Indeed, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic which broke out in Wuhan, China but which has since spread across the globe, virtually every country has had their national life and normal economic activities disrupted.
Subsequently, a number of measures have come into force in helping curb not only the spread of the dreaded virus, but also halt community transmission, which has been identified as one of the most worrisome aspects of the war against COVID-19.
Specifically, there is an emphasis on behavioural changes, with social distancing and improved personal hygiene emerging as essential guides.
Furthermore, restrictions have been placed on areas of high human concentration such as airports, schools, religious gatherings and most importantly, markets.
Consequently, e-Commerce has emerged as a ready-made channel for helping people carry out contact-less shopping, observing social distancing and the important call to stay at home, while also coping seamlessly with the shut-down of offline markets.
As a matter of fact, evidence abounds of how e-commerce has been leveraged to great effect in other climes and even in other African countries in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Germany and New Zealand, two of the countries that have made the most progress with respect to curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, e-Commerce has been one of the secrets.
Even in other African countries such as Morocco, Ghana, Uganda – where citizens were advised in a government communique to opt for online shopping options as a means of getting essential items delivered to homes – and in Ghana – where e-Commerce was given special status and Ghanaians urged to rely more on digital channels for the delivery of food and other essentials; the situation is different.
In fact, same special deployment of e-Commerce in aiding the citizenry observe the essential regulations of social distancing and reducing unnecessary contact in crowded markets has been identified in China, Spain, France, the United Arab Emirates, among others.
However, in Nigeria, the situation is almost the opposite.
A number of Nigerians, left with little choice due to afore-mentioned challenges encountered by e-Commerce players, are increasingly relying on open-air markets – which manage to escape the subsisting ban – to shop for their essentials.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the country is currently battling to stop ongoing community transmission of COVID-19 as confirmed cases continue to rise by the day. Going by recent figures released on Saturday by the country’s disease-fighting agency, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria has recorded 1182 cases of COVID-19; with Lagos in particular, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of the cases.
Yet, e-Commerce companies, which have the capability to reach the last mile with essential deliveries, are not given free rein to operate.
Further buttressing the points raised above, the source at Konga called on the government to take action.
‘‘We expect the government and the authorities to act. E-Commerce companies in Nigeria can play a key role in the fight against COVID-19, as can be seen from the examples in other countries.
“The Nigerian government should provide more institutional support and some form of public backing for this budding sector as this would go a long way in not only encouraging more Nigerians to embrace the needed behavioural change central to the COVID-19 fight but would also ensure less hassles from other state actors on the highways,’’ he concluded.
Nigeria is currently battling hard to rein in the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic.
While there has been no formal restriction of e-commerce players, the government has equally stopped short of any form of official public pronouncement or declaration to ensure that the services of e-Commerce companies are protected and not disrupted by security agencies enforcing the lock-down.
In addition, the government has failed in toeing the path of other countries in leveraging e-commerce to great advantage in helping Nigerians stay in supply of essential products while complying with the lockdown.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as necessary to protect young people from online harm.
The proposed restrictions will apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X.
Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be affected by the measures.
In a recorded video message released on Monday, Starmer said the government was taking decisive action in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing.
“It’s a big step for our country. Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just can’t let that go on anymore,” he said.
The announcement follows a national consultation conducted between March and May, which received more than 116,000 responses on children’s use of technology.
According to the findings, more than 83 per cent of parents believed the risks associated with social media outweighed its benefits, while 90 per cent supported setting 16 as the minimum age for accessing social media platforms.
The British government said legislation would be introduced before Christmas, with the protections expected to come into force next spring.
Under the proposed framework, children under 16 will also be prevented from using livestreaming features and from communicating with strangers on affected platforms.
Starmer acknowledged that implementing age restrictions would be challenging but said the government had carefully reviewed available evidence and lessons from other countries before deciding to proceed.
“It’s not an easy thing to do. We haven’t rushed into it. We’ve looked carefully at the evidence and will continue adapting our approach as technology changes,” he said.
The Prime Minister also signalled a willingness to confront major technology firms that may oppose the policy.
“We will take them on, and we will win, because the need for action could not be any clearer,” he added.
The move comes amid increasing global efforts to regulate children’s access to social media.
Last year, Australia became the first country to enact legislation restricting access to major social media platforms for children under 16.
However, Australian authorities have reported enforcement challenges, with a recent study indicating that many children continued to maintain accounts despite the restrictions.
Alongside the proposed ban, the British government announced a £132.5 million “Every Child Can” programme aimed at expanding access to sports, arts and nature-based activities in schools and local communities as alternatives to excessive screen time.
The initiative follows recent calls by the government for technology companies, including Apple and Google, to strengthen safeguards preventing children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images online.
The government said the measures were designed to combat online exploitation, reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and improve online safety.
Meanwhile, social media companies in the United States continue to face legal challenges alleging that their platforms contributed to mental health problems among young users and failed to adequately protect children from online predators.
Supporters of stricter age-verification requirements argue that they are necessary to shield children from harmful online content, while critics have raised concerns over privacy, data protection and freedom of expression.
TikTok says football remains one of the strongest passions among its users in Nigeria, with 59 per cent of users on the platform following the sport.
TikTok
The social media platform disclosed this in a report highlighting the growing influence of football communities and sports content across Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to TikTok, 28 per cent of its users in Nigeria actively participate in football, underscoring the sport’s significance as a cultural touchpoint and a driver of engagement on the platform.
The report noted that football-related hashtags such as #football, #soccer, #SuperEagles and #NaijaFootball have become active hubs for fan reactions, commentary, highlights and match-day conversations.
TikTok said it had evolved into a leading platform for sports entertainment and football culture, bringing together fans, athletes, clubs and content creators through its #SportsOnTikTok initiative.
It revealed that more than 6.5 million videos had been created under the #SportsOnTikTok hashtag, reflecting growing interest in sports content ranging from match reactions and tactical analysis to creator-led storytelling.
“Football communities across Africa are increasingly using TikTok to celebrate their teams, share reactions, debate key moments and connect with global football audiences in authentic and engaging ways,” the report stated.
The platform also highlighted strong engagement during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), noting that more than 1.2 million posts were created globally under the #AFCON2025 hashtag.
According to TikTok, 28.6 per cent of those posts originated from Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing the platform’s role as a major destination for football fans following tournaments in real time.
The report further showed that sports content on TikTok continues to influence audiences beyond the platform.
It stated that 85 per cent of sports fans globally use TikTok as a second-screen experience while watching sporting events, while 42 per cent are more likely to tune into live matches after viewing sports content on the platform.
Additionally, 90 per cent of fans reportedly take at least one action outside the platform after watching sports-related content, while 72 per cent enjoy viewing fan edits, reaction videos and other fan-generated sports content.
TikTok also highlighted the increasing participation of women in sports conversations on the platform.
According to the report, 64 per cent of women globally choose TikTok as their preferred destination for sports content, accounting for 46 per cent of all sports-related views on the platform during the first half of 2025.
The company said the findings reflected a new era of digital sports engagement in which football and other sporting experiences extend beyond the pitch through fan participation, content creation and online communities.
It added that TikTok was becoming a key destination for the next generation of football fandom, transforming passive viewership into active participation through shared experiences and real-time interactions.
Telecom
Nigeria Innovation Summit 2026 Set to Convene West Africa’s Brightest Minds to Shape the Future of Innovation
InnovationHub Africa, Africa’s foremost driver of technology and innovation, is proud to announce the Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS) 11.0, the 11th edition of West Africa’s biggest and most celebrated innovation gathering, scheduled for October 6, 2026, at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos.
Nigeria Innovation Summit 2026
The Summit promises to be the most ambitious, high-impact edition yet, bringing together Nigeria’s most brilliant minds, innovators, startups, trailblazing entrepreneurs, global thought leaders, and policy architects under one electrifying roof.
Disclosing the event’s agenda, Mr. Tony Ajah, the Programme Director of the Summit says, “The theme for this year’s event is ‘Innovating in the Age of AI’.” The theme confronts one of the defining questions of our time: how can Nigeria and Africa harness the power of AI to drive transformative innovation, accelerate economic growth, and compete boldly on the global stage?”
“We are living through the most consequential technological shift of our generation. AI is happening right now, reshaping industries, redefining careers, and rewriting the rules of competition. As AI reshapes every sector from agriculture to fintech, from healthcare to education, we are creating the most critical space for Nigeria’s innovators to get ahead of the curve,” Mr. Ajah says.
“NIS 11.0 is our clarion call to every Nigerian innovator and institution to get in the room, understand the wave, and ride it. We must not be spectators in the AI revolution but architects of it. So, this year’s event will go beyond inspiration to deliver actionable insights and measurable impact, empowering stakeholders to build resilient and future-ready systems,” he added.
NIS has established itself as a premier platform for advancing technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, and continues to foster cross-sector collaboration and inspire solutions to pressing socio-economic challenges. It brings in experts within the Nigerian innovation ecosystem and around the world to connect, share ideas, and collaborate.
This year’s event will feature insightful discussions, Nigeria Innovation Experience talks (NiX Talks), innovative showcases of emerging technologies and their applications, workshops, fireside chats, startup pitches, and exhibitions. The Summit will climax with the 2026 Nigeria Innovation Awards.
Beyond discussions, the Summit is designed to catalyze strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, and policy directions that support innovation-led growth. Through previous editions, NIS has attracted over 15,000 delegates, 240 speakers and panellists, 100 tertiary institutions and research centres, 40 government ministries, attendees from 36 states, over 170 sponsors and partners, 42 countries, and over 97 innovation award recipients.
Participation in this event is open to local and international businesses, innovators, startups, MSMEs, public and private institutions, embassies/high commissions, investors, the academic community, and all the stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. The event will also be live-streamed to a wider audience across Nigeria and beyond. Attendance is free and open to all registered delegates.
NIS 11.0 offers great opportunities through sponsorship, partnership, and exhibitions of innovative products, ideas, and services. For more inquiries and participation, please visit: https://innovationsummit.ng/
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