E-Financial
Covid-19: Opportunity for Govt Payment Digitization and Financial Inclusion in Africa
By Emmanuel Okoegwale
Since the beginning of 2020, the World had been gripped by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic crisis affecting millions of people across all the continents including Africa with global Health institutions and National governments mandating partial or full closure of economic, transportation, social activities which then necessitated governments interventions to reduce impacts to the vulnerable segments of the society through different programs.
In different forms across Africa, citizens are getting cash from their governments via diverse programs such as Public Works for unemployed persons, social pensions, child support, old age persons and disability grants, social relief, unemployment grants, cash transfer programs, disaster reliefs etc
Governments across Africa often lack the capacity and systems to deliver benefits digitally, to final recipients and cash is the de-facto standard to achieve the three Rs: Paying the RIGHT person, the RIGHT amount at the RIGHT Time whereas digital payment, can guarantee payment certainty with better outcomes.
Due to the contagion nature of the Covid-19, the World Health Organization is encouraging and advising citizens to switch to digital and contactless mode of payments to reduce the risk of face to face transactions. Physical cash had not been proven to transmit the virus, but the physical activities associated with cash, can be a risk.
In most parts of Africa, millions of people do not have access to basic financial services due to many factors such as low literacy, low mobile device ownership, lack of acceptable identification, limited bank branches, low economic activities which presents a compelling opportunity for government interventions (emergence, short or long term) as a leverage for payment digitization and financial inclusion which can address all the issues militating against the access to formal financial services since governments can provide or waive some requirements and address the low economic activity of intended beneficiaries through the government grants payment.
Digitization will help governments to scale their coverage and reach, in an effective and efficient manner such that millions can be reached instantaneously and simultaneously.
It will save governments enormous cost, improve citizen’s trust, improve accountability, transparency of interventions, reduce physical barriers especially in many parts of Africa with significant infrastructural deficiencies across urban and rural areas.
Aside the scale that can be achieved by going digital, it will also improve economic empowerment of the beneficiaries by enabling access to other basic financial services such as saving, credit, insurance, remittances etc and improve overall economic participation of excluded groups.
Building a digital ecosystem is desirous however care must be taken to ensure the right human and technology capacities are available to transition from cash to digital platforms with the right regulatory environment and support, required to implement such while putting the beneficiary as the central focus when designing the digital systems and processes in highly fragmented digital ecosystems in many parts of Africa.
Some positives already emerging across Africa with financial regulators reducing or removing transaction fees like in Ghana and Kenya while South Africa’s Social Security Agency recently tested registration via WhatsApp and USSD for R350-per-month Covid-19 unemployment grants due to be paid to about six millions people over the next six months and will displace physical food parcels delivered as part of normal relief-of-distress grants.
Malawi will soon launch an emergency cash transfer program targeting about 1 million people and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic with eligible households receiving 35,000 Malawi kwacha ($40) monthly payment through mobile cash transfer starting in May while Namibia already paid the first batch of 147,000 grantees, digitally in April.
New approaches in making government to person payments require diverse approaches due to different segments of the community targeted however with proper community and beneficiary segmentation, National governments will be able develop and deplore appropriate payment mechanism that can replace the use of cash and foster financial inclusion which will enable millions to exit the poverty trap.
When governments move their social grants to digital platforms, it creates a platform for access to other basic financial services which are beneficial to the governments, businesses, and the beneficiaries.
Emmanuel Okoegwale can be reached on [email protected]
Sterling Bank, in partnership with nonprofit Water.org and Sterling One Foundation, has launched the Sterling WASH Business Loan to empower WASH businesses and scale sustainable access to safe water and sanitation for millions of Nigerians.
L-R: Gilbert Okpono, Snr. Partnership Account Manager, Water.org; Engr. Mukhtaar Temitope Tijani, Managing Director, Lagos State Water Corporation; Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; Akporee Idenedo, Divisional Head Commercial Banking, Sterling Bank, at the Sterling Bank Water Credit Proposition held in Lagos recently.
The catalytic financing solution addresses daily struggles with clean water and safe sanitation, which impact health, livelihoods, and well-being, while strengthening delivery systems for WASH solutions.
Launched on Monday, November 24, 2025, at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, the initiative signals a shared commitment to tackling one of Nigeria’s most pressing development challenges.
Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director of Sterling Bank, said sustainable development hinges on collaboration and targeted investment in frontline businesses and people.
“By providing accessible financing to entrepreneurs in this critical social sector, we ensure progress reaches communities that need it most. This product aligns with our HEART strategy and commitment to improving quality of life through impact-driven initiatives,” Suleiman stated.
Gilbert Okpono, Nigeria Senior Partnership Account Manager at Water.org, stressed the transformative power of financing WASH businesses.
“Financial inclusion is critical to solving the global water and sanitation crisis. By expanding access to affordable financing, we enable households and WASH entrepreneurs to improve services, reach more communities, and transform lives,” Okpono said.
He added that the partnership reflects a belief in rippling benefits across health, education, and economic opportunity, marking a major step toward sustainable scaling.
The loan supports WASH entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community service providers with flexible financing to expand operations, boost health, livelihoods, and educational outcomes.
Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, linked the initiative to the foundation’s mission of catalysing lasting social impact across Africa.
“Our Foundation catalyses initiatives that deliver real, lasting change. Access to safe water and sanitation is one of the most powerful investments in community well-being. We are proud to partner with Water.org and Sterling Bank for inclusive, scalable, and sustainable solutions,” Ibekwe affirmed.
The launch event gathered development partners, WASH entrepreneurs, media, policymakers, and community organisations to discuss coordinated financing, supportive policies, and market-driven solutions to close Nigeria’s WASH access gap.
Interested beneficiaries can visit the initiative’s website for more details.
Access Holdings Plc has received the approval of its shareholders to raise additional capital of up to N40 billion or such other amount or their equivalent in foreign currencies, via private placement.
The shareholders gave the approval as part of the special resolutions at Access Holdings Plc Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on Thursday December 18.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Access Holdings said the new ordinary shares created in connection with the private placement, will be allotted at a price of N20.25 to one or more investors in such tranches and on such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Board.
Access Holdings Plc Board of Directors is authorised to consider, negotiate, approve, and finalise the list of potential private placement investors; determine the structure, valuation, modalities, and timeline for the private placement.
The Board was also authorised to consider, negotiate, approve and finalise the list of potential private placement investors; determine the structure, valuation, modalities and timeline for the private placement.
The shareholders also approved for the issued share capital of Access Holdings Plc to be increased from N26 658 billion to N27.646 billion by the creation and addition of 1,975,308,641 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each ranking pari-passu with the existing ordinary shares of the Company.
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has imposed a three per cent surcharge on Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) over delays in the remittance of Customs revenue by designated banks.
The development was disclosed by Abdullahi Maiwada, national public relations officer of the Service, in a statement titled “Nigeria Customs Service Commences Enforcement of Penalties Against Designated Banks for Delayed Remittance of Customs Revenue.”
The agency stated that delays in remitting collected Customs revenue constitute a breach of remittance obligations and negatively impact the efficiency, transparency and integrity of government revenue administration.
Maiwada explained that any Designated Bank that fails to remit collected Customs revenue within the prescribed period will be liable to penalty interest, adding that affected banks will receive formal notifications detailing the delayed amount, applicable penalty and the timeline for settlement.
“The NCS has noted instances of delayed remittance of Customs revenue by some Designated Banks following reconciliation of collections processed through the B’Odogwu platform. Such delays constitute a breach of remittance obligations and negatively impact the efficiency, transparency and integrity of government revenue administration.
“In line with the provisions of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) executed between the Nigeria Customs Service and Designated Banks, the Service hereby notifies stakeholders of the commencement of enforcement actions against banks found to be in default of agreed remittance timelines.
“Accordingly, any Designated Bank that fails to remit collected Customs revenue within the prescribed period shall be liable to penalty interest calculated at three per cent above the prevailing Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate for the duration of the delay. Affected banks will receive formal notifications indicating the delayed amount, applicable penalty and the timeline for settlement.”
Maiwada further advised Designated Banks to strengthen their internal controls, ensure strict adherence to remittance timelines and comply fully with the provisions of the SLA.
He reiterated that the Service remains committed to enforcing accountability, safeguarding government revenue and promoting a transparent and predictable financial system in support of national economic development.
“The Service further notes that persistent or repeated non-compliance with the terms of the SLA may attract additional sanctions, including regulatory and administrative measures, as provided under the Agreement and relevant laws guiding Customs revenue collection.
“The NCS reiterates that prompt, accurate and complete remittance of Customs revenue is a fundamental obligation of Designated Banks. Any payment of collected revenue into unauthorised accounts, whether deliberate or erroneous, will be treated as a serious violation and addressed in accordance with the SLA and applicable legal frameworks.
“Designated Banks are therefore advised to strengthen internal controls, ensure strict adherence to remittance timelines and comply fully with the provisions of the SLA. The Service remains committed to enforcing accountability, safeguarding government revenue and promoting a transparent and predictable financial system in support of national economic development,” he added.
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