E-Business
Cybercrime: Stakeholders at ICT Forum Worry Over N127Bn Annual Losses
Stakeholders who gathered at this year’s edition of the African Digital Awards (ADA) have expressed worry over and seek measures to curb N127 billion annual estimated economic losses to rising wave of cybercrimes in the country.
ADA is a twin programme, which annually features an award ceremony after an intensive workshop tagged Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum (NIICF), where critical issues affecting the industries are assessed and solutions proffered by industry regulators and stakeholders from the private sector of the industry.
Discussions at this year’s forum NIICF forum was around “Broadband Access: The Challenges of Cyber Security: Threats and Effect on Social Media Era.
While the issue of cybercrime, in its ramifications is said to be a global phenomenon, the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Communications, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), MTN, MainOne, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), among others were on accord that Nigeria needed to develop a strategy backed with thorough implementation of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 towards curbing the economic losses.
According to them, In Nigeria and other countries around the world, the internet has become an integral part of everyday life and has become a key development index, whose measurement is taken by development-oriented organisations and agencies.
While noting that there was no doubt about the positive impact of the internet and its peripheral technologies in enhancing people’s daily lives, they were also on accord that Internet has brought about the advent of cybercrimes, which are now threatening the socio-economic landscape of people across the globe.
Speaking at the forum recently held at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, noted that within a short period of time, Internet had evolved from being a simple tool for accessing information and conducting communication and commerce to becoming a significant venue for social activity and interaction.
He, however, said that whilst this means better and more convenient services and a boost in the economy, it also creates a viable avenue for cyber attacks and criminal activities which could cripple or destabilise the national system. “As the world increasingly depends on technology and the cyberspace, especially increasing access to broadband for daily businesses, it gets more and more insecure.
Yearly, he said thousands of cybersecurity problems are identified in cyber space and technologies from known and unknown global actors leaving Internet users vulnerable.
Shittu said cybersecurity is more than a challenge for government as it poses a huge obstacle to the country’s digital transformation agenda in social and economy desired for the country, stressing, however, that the Federal Government has estimated an annual loss of over N127 billion to cybercrime activities in the nation, the minister said.
According to him, “Nigeria has had its fair share of cybercrimes between 2016 and 2017 alone, stressing that the recession in 2016 brought about numerous attacks targeted at organisations and individuals.” Noting the most recent targets in Nigeria were unsuspecting patronisers of ponzi schemes.
“In the wave of austerity, many people lost money to the said schemes carried out through cyber platforms and others fell victims to malicious and compromising websites.”
Indeed, in the electronic payment space, data from the Nigerian Inter-bank settlement Systems Plc (NIBSS) showed that in the first quarter of this year, over N374 million was lost to different cases of electronic frauds.
Meanwhile, Prof Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of NCC, explained while development of regulatory framework for broadband penetration, licensing of infrastructure service providers, issuance of wireless broadband licence and the offering of more wireless broadband frequency and services are part of the Commission’s efforts towards ensuring deepen broadband access, the Commission has been collaborating with necessary stakeholders in order to work together to also tackle rising wave of cybercrimes.
“For instance, the Commission, among others, is partnering with the ITU to establish in Nigeria a Regional Cybersecurity Centre (RCC) for Africa,” Danbatta said. ‘The centre, which will be sited in Abuja, will provide support in the area of technical manpower training, information sharing and other collaborative roles with local Computer Security Incidence Response Team (CESIRT).”
Also Convener of the forum, Mr. Tayo Adewusi, said as individuals get exposed to cyber crimes, “companies are also exposed to the risks in the course of interacting with their supply chain, partners and customers but all said and done, Mr, Olusola Teniola, president of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said there was a need for government to create more enabling environment for service providers and collaborate with them more in order to sanitise the industry.
Mr. Kunle Adegoke, partner, M.A Banire & Associates, stressed the need for effective implementation of the Cyber Crime Act, 2015, saying “what we need is to be religious about the implementation and then not lose the sight of the fact that technology is always ahead of law and ‘so, the law must be subjected to periodic review and amendments in order to make it relevant at all time no matter the advancement in technology space.”
Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Ms Funke Opeke, who also made a presentation that in capturing the broadband demand in the country, there was a need to encourage last-mile transmission of humongous internet bandwidth seating in the shores of Lagos to the nooks and crannies of the country to ensure wider access to broadband services. “Also, other challenges relating to multiple taxation, multiple regulation, vandalism and denial of right of way (RoW) must be addressed,” she added.
In the same vein, Ms. Abimbola Alale, chief executive officer of NIGCOMSAT, disclosed that while her organisation has been collaborating to deploy satellite facilities and encourage their usage within the country, towards encouraging deeper broadband, “we are also working day and night o ensure that our broadband services are secure for Nigerians and beyond.”
Other stakeholders, who spoke at the event, have emphasized that the fight against cybercrimes is currently beyond socio-political and economic exigencies, adding that as broadband access gets deeper, creating wider and unhindered access to high-speed internet, there is greater need to form strategic partnerships and collaborative alliances with stakeholders, agencies, organisations and jurisdictions with the objective of forming a common front to combat the menace of cybercrime in all its ramification and manifestations in the society.
Meanwhile, awardees at this year’s ADA leg of the event included Most Outstanding Telecoms Company of the Year which went to MTN Nigeria; Regulator of the Year was clinched by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Most Outstanding Government Agency of the Year grabbed by Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd.) and away ICT Woman of the Year won by the due Chief Executive Officers of NIGCOMSAT, Ms Abimbola Alale and Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Ms Funke Opeke.
Also, the award jury rated Kunle Azeez of New Telegraph as Most Outstanding ICT Editor of the Year; former President of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Engr. Bayo Banjo emerged as Broadcast Personality of the Year; Chief Executive Officer of Teledom Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, won Broadband Luminary Award; Mr. Babatunde Mo’ Aguda emerged winner of Youth Innovative Award while Mr. Chris Kehinde Nwandu won Most Outstanding Online Editor of the Year.
Identy.io, a United States-based cybersecurity and mobile biometric authentication company, has announced plans to process one billion biometric identity verification transactions in Nigeria within the next few years as digital banking adoption continues to expand across the country.
The company said increasing demand for secure digital identity systems within the banking, telecommunications, and public sectors is creating fresh opportunities for biometric authentication solutions, especially as financial institutions strengthen compliance and anti-fraud measures.
Speaking at an executive roundtable on mobile biometric innovation in Lagos, Jesus Aragon, chief executive officer, Identy.io, said Nigeria’s fast-growing digital financial services sector requires more reliable and scalable identity verification technology to support customer onboarding and transaction security.
He explained that the company’s mobile biometric solution enables users to verify their identities directly from their smartphones without depending on physical scanners, external devices, or centralized processing infrastructure.
The technology supports fingerprint and facial verification while functioning effectively in areas with limited internet connectivity.
According to Aragon, the platform is designed to integrate with Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) system and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), allowing financial institutions to carry out secure remote identity authentication.
He stated that the company’s technology includes liveness detection and deepfake identification features capable of detecting fake fingerprints, manipulated images, masks, and other fraudulent identity attempts during digital onboarding processes.
The Identy.io boss added that the company’s offline verification capability distinguishes it from several existing solutions in the market, noting that biometric authentication can be completed entirely on users’ mobile devices without constant internet access.
He further disclosed that biometric information captured during authentication remains on the user’s device instead of being transferred to external servers or centralized databases, reducing exposure to data breaches and cyberattacks.
Industry stakeholders at the roundtable also discussed the increasing pressure on Nigerian banks to improve customer verification processes following stricter regulatory directives by the Central Bank of Nigeria on Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance and fraud prevention.
Participants noted that agency banking operations in rural and low-connectivity locations continue to face security and onboarding challenges, creating demand for stronger and more flexible authentication systems.
Aragon maintained that biometric authentication could significantly reduce fraud associated with passwords and one-time passwords (OTPs), stressing that biometrics provide stronger identity assurance for financial transactions.
The company also confirmed that it has expanded its footprint across Africa, Latin America, and the United States, with operational presence already established in Nigeria and Kenya.
Aragon expressed confidence that Nigeria’s banking and telecom industries would generate massive biometric verification volumes in the coming years as financial inclusion and digital payment systems continue to deepen nationwide.
TD Africa, in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Operated by Selectium, hosted a high-level partner engagement event on May 14, 2026, focused on emerging trends shaping the future of enterprise networking and infrastructure transformation.
TD Africa
The engagement brought together key partners to explore how organisations can build smarter, faster, and more secure network infrastructures capable of supporting today’s rapidly evolving digital economy. Central to the discussions was the growing relevance of WiFi 7 and the shift from traditional networking models to intelligent, AI-driven infrastructure ecosystems.
As businesses continue to accelerate digital transformation, conversations at the event centred on a critical question: Is your infrastructure ready for the speed of transformation? From edge-to-cloud connectivity and IoT integration to AI-enabled networking and advanced security frameworks, the session highlighted the increasing demand for agile, scalable, and resilient enterprise solutions.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ifee Kojo, Country Manager, HPE Operated by Selectium, highlighted HPE’s commitment to helping organisations modernise their infrastructure and navigate the future of connectivity. “HPE is driving transformation across the entire technology ecosystem, from the data centre to the edge, from IoT to AI-powered connectivity.
“Our focus is on helping businesses strengthen security, improve scalability, and build intelligent infrastructures that support innovation and growth.
“Through our strong partner TD Africa, we can extend these solutions more effectively into the market, ensuring organisations have access to the right technologies needed to compete and thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world,” she said.
Also speaking, Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director at TD Africa, emphasised the importance of future-ready networking in enabling business resilience and long-term digital growth. “Networking today is no longer just about connectivity; it has become the backbone of enterprise transformation.
“As organisations embrace AI, cloud environments, remote operations, and data-driven systems, the need for secure, intelligent, and scalable infrastructure becomes even more critical.
“TD Africa is committed to ensuring our partners are equipped with the right technologies, insights, and support needed to navigate this shift successfully.
“Our collaboration with HPE reflects our shared commitment to helping businesses modernise confidently and prepare for the future of digital innovation,” she stated.
Through strategic collaborations with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like HPE, TD Africa continues to strengthen its position as a key distributor of enterprise and networking solutions across Africa, enabling partners and organisations to access cutting-edge technologies backed by technical expertise, market reach, and ecosystem support.
E-Business
Jumia Nigeria Records Strong Q1 2026 Growth as Technology-Led Strategy Drives Market Expansion
Jumia has announced strong first-quarter 2026 performance results, with Nigeria emerging as one of the company’s standout growth markets across Africa, reinforcing the country’s position as a critical driver of the company’s long-term expansion strategy.
According to the company’s Q1 2026 financial results released May 7th, 2026, Nigeria recorded a 42% year-on-year increase in physical goods Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), making it one of Jumia’s strongest-performing markets during the period.
Commenting on the performance, Temidayo Ojo, CEO of Jumia Nigeria, said, “Nigeria continues to demonstrate the strength and resilience of its digital commerce ecosystem. The growth we recorded in Q1 reflects increasing consumer confidence, stronger engagement across our platform, and our continued investment in technology, logistics, and customer experience.”
“We are seeing more Nigerians embrace e-commerce not just for convenience, but as a trusted part of everyday life. Our focus remains on building a platform that is more accessible, more reliable, and more relevant to the evolving needs of Nigerian consumers and sellers,” Ojo further mentioned.
The company attributed its broader growth trajectory to disciplined execution, operational efficiency, and increased deployment of technology and AI-driven systems across its operations.
According to the report, Jumia leveraged artificial intelligence and automation across operations, finance, customer support, cybersecurity, seller management, logistics, and technology teams to improve service quality while reducing operational costs company-wide.
The company also noted that technology and content expenses declined year-on-year due to ongoing headcount optimisation and savings from renegotiated technology contracts, while operational leverage continued to improve. They further highlighted increased use of AI tools among its technology teams, alongside automation in call centres and operational systems, as part of efforts to scale sustainably while improving efficiency across African markets.
Across the platform, Jumia reported significant gains in customer retention and marketplace engagement. Quarterly Active Customers reached 2.5 million, while physical goods orders climbed to 5.9 million in Q1 2026.
The company also expanded usage beyond major urban centres, with 62% of total orders now coming from secondary cities and upcountry regions, emphasising the growing reach of digital commerce across Africa.
Despite global economic pressures, including rising memory chip and CPU prices and supply chain disruptions linked to ongoing Middle East conflicts, the company reaffirmed its path toward profitability. Jumia stated that it remains on track to achieve Adjusted EBITDA breakeven and positive cash flow in Q4 2026, with full-year profitability targeted for 2027.
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