Broadcasting
Demystifying ePayments: How Policies and Regulations Can Make Them Work for Everyone
By Abang Emenyi, Head, Growth & Marketing, OnePipe
The sights and sounds of a bustling local market in Lagos on a busy Saturday are something to behold. Traders energetically marketing their goods, buyers engaging in spirited negotiations over prices, money exchanging hands in quick succession – it’s a vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurship. Yet, within this lively picture lies an untapped transformative opportunity: electronic payments (ePayments).
In the modern digital age, ePayments have the potential to reshape these scenes, imbuing them with a level of efficiency, safety, and speed that cash transactions simply cannot match. But the journey to this promising digital landscape is not without its hurdles. To make ePayments work for everyone – the users, businesses, and merchants – an intricate framework of sound policies and regulations is needed.
One of the critical aspects of this regulatory framework is financial inclusion. The digital transformation should not cater only to the privileged few but must be accessible to everyone, irrespective of their location or financial standing.
So, the narrative of financial inclusion must shift from being a mere goal to a critical policy requirement. This involves policies that promote digital literacy, ensure investments in digital infrastructure across urban and rural areas, and encourage businesses to adopt ePayments.
Interoperability is another essential component of a robust ePayment system. The seamless interaction between different payment systems maximizes the convenience of ePayments. Hence, regulations promoting interoperability, such as open banking policies, are crucial.
These ensure that regardless of a user’s location or preferred payment service, their transactions can be processed smoothly and efficiently.
Then there’s the significant matter of cybersecurity. As we embrace digital technologies, we must also acknowledge the reality of cyber threats. These threats pose considerable risks to ePayments due to the sensitive nature of financial information.
Addressing these risks requires robust cybersecurity regulations that offer clear guidelines to financial institutions and fintech companies for securing their platforms. Such regulations are key to safeguarding users’ funds and personal data, and in turn, fostering trust in ePayment systems.
However, these regulations and policies must be born out of consultations with all stakeholders – users, businesses, and merchants. This inclusivity in policy-making ensures that the resulting regulations are not only robust but also practical and sensitive to the unique needs of the Nigerian market.
It’s also crucial to remember that drafting policies is just the first step; effective enforcement is equally important. Regulators must have both the capacity and the resolve to enforce these policies.
They need to monitor compliance by financial institutions and fintech companies, and any non-compliance needs to be addressed promptly and firmly.
ePayments, in the grand scheme of things, can ignite a financial revolution in Nigeria. They can stimulate economic activity, foster financial inclusion, and revolutionize the way we transact.
However, to unlock this potential, we need comprehensive, thoughtful, and inclusive regulation. With the right policies in place, ePayments can become a win-win solution for all stakeholders, transforming Nigeria’s financial landscape and propelling the nation towards a prosperous future.
This is our golden opportunity to shape the future of finance in Nigeria, and with meticulous planning and execution, we can ensure that ePayments truly work for everyone.
Broadcasting
How to Beat DStv Price Increase with ‘Price Lock’ Feature
In today’s fast-paced world, where every penny counts, finding ways to save on essential services is more important than ever. And as part of its commitment to customer satisfaction, DStv has reiterated its “Price Lock” feature.
This is in response to the upcoming tariff increase, which the company understands may impose some financial strain on its valued customers.
What exactly does the “Price Lock” feature entail? The “Price Lock” feature offers customers the opportunity to retain their subscriptions at the current rate for 12 months.
To use the “Price Lock” feature, customers simply need to renew their subscriptions before the due date each month, ensuring uninterrupted access to their favourite DStv content at the current rate for the next 12 months.
But here’s the catch: only customers with an active subscription by the 30th of April qualify for this offer, when the tariff adjustment comes into effect.
Make sure you don’t miss the price lock offer! Simply download the MyDStv or MyGOtv app or dial *288# to subscribe, upgrade, or set up Auto-Renewal.
Broadcasting
OJI Demands Ban on Netflix, TikTok, Others over Same-Sex Content
Civil Society Organisation (CSO) under the auspices of Open Justice Initiative (OJI), has threatened to drag the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to court if it fails to ban Netflix, TikTok, and others over the alleged broadcast of offensive same-sex content on Nigeria’s airwaves.
The CSO, also urged NBC to ban other social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, etc with regard to the subject matter.
Donald Ayibiowu, lawyer and programme officer of OJI, gave the warning in a letter addressed to Mr. Charles Ebuebu, director-general of the NBC.
The certified true copy of the letter titled: “Need to ban and bar the continuous broadcast of offensive same-sex contents on Nigeria’s airwaves by Netflix and other specialised broadcast outlets”, made available to newsmen in Abuja, was received by the Commission on April 23, 2024.
The letter said, “We write to draw the esteem attention of your commission to some obnoxious and repugnant same-sex contents being aired or transmitted by some broadcast outfits operating within the Nigeria broadcast space, which platforms includes Netflix and some social media entities.
“These abhorrent contents being campaigned about borders on the promotion of amorous relationships between persons of same sex on the said platforms.
“We received complaints on this topic from well-meaning Nigerians and religious organisations and further discovered that the broadcast contents/materials on these platforms are laced with embedded scenes/episodes where same-sex relationships are practically being propagated.
“We also conducted research on some social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter (X), Facebook (Meta), etc with regards to this subject, and found same hazardous and illegal same-sex content being promoted and transmitted.
“It is clear that there is an agenda to surreptitiously lure the unsuspecting young population of this country to this satanic habit/lifestyle of same-sex practice in Nigeria by subtly introducing same through entertainment and showbiz industry, albeit through the airwaves.
“It is now commonplace to see some of these illegal contents being conveyed on social media and specialised platforms in Nigeria.
“We wish to point out that these contents are clearly being aired or transmitted in contravention of our extant laws such as Sections 4(2) and 5(2} of the Same-Sex Mariage (Prohibition) Act, 2013,” he said.
The lawyer said the act being subtly propagated and promoted via the mediums was targeted at destroying the moral fibre and rectitude, erode, dislodging and polluting the society with unacceptable inhuman values.
He said it was also to erode the age-long cultural practices and sacred religious belief system of male and female gender only as created by God Almighty.
Ayibiowu said, that if the commission failed to block, restrict or scrap the same-sex promotional material/contents from Nigeria airwaves, “we shall proceed to seek further redress in pursuit of our goal of saner Nigeria airwaves”.
Broadcasting
FCCPC to Review Multichoice’s Tariff Hike
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has promised to review recent price increases in MultiChoice cable subscriptions to ensure subscribers in Nigeria get value for their money.
Recall that the leading pay TV operator, recently announced increase in the subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages by at least 25 per cent.
Multichoice announced the increase in tarrifs in a message sent to subscribers on Wednesday and said that the new regime will be effective May 1.
The company stated this in the statement signed by John Ugbe, chief executive officer was titled, ‘Price Adjustment on DStv and GOtv Packages.’
The pay-TV firm cited the rise in the cost of business operations as the rationale behind the price increase.
The company said, “We understand the impact this change may have on you – our valued customer, but the rise in the cost of business operations, has led us to make this difficult decision.
“It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you and are committed to continue to deliver high-quality content and unparalleled service. So, from Wednesday, 1 May 2024, the price adjustment will take effect.”
But Adamu Abdullahi, acting chief executive officer, FCCPC, in a chat with Channels Television on its Dateline Abuja programme on Thursday, provided an update on the summons issued to the owner of a Chinese store in Abuja accused of discriminatory and sharp practices.
He also commented on the adherence to the order given to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, stating that sanctions are imminent for all verified infractions identified by the agency.
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