News
Experts Suggest Ways to Rejig Cashless

After seeing the cashless economy get off on a shaky start, experts have canvassed the need for more government interventions to discourage cash transactions in every business segments of the economy, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report.
When the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), came up with the novel ‘Cashless’ policy in 2011, it was aimed at changing the spending culture of Nigerians which is notoriously cash-transaction based with its attendant security challenges.
But six months into the project, most people are still dependant on cash for daily transactions.
Has the project failed six months into trial period? Or are there any measures of successes already credited to the policy?
Folake Ani-Mumuney, head, marketing and corporate communications at First Bank Nigeria Plc said there have been several benefits associated with the ‘Cashless’ policy, although there are still enough rooms for government intervention to make it a sustainable national programme.
Nigeria CommunicaionsWeek learnt that the bank has a good report on the ‘Cashless’ project. For instance, there has been a 200.16 per cent rise in eChannels transaction from December 2011 to May 2012.
“Before the introduction of the policy, we recorded a monthly average of about N3 Billion in eChannels transactions in 2011. But by end of May 2012 volume in eChannels transaction hit N10.6 Billion. That shows there are positives in the policy, although government still has a lot to do in terms to building a sustainable cashless policy,” said Ani-Mumuney.
She noted that the bank is committed to promoting cutting edge technology to serve the diverse needs of its’ teeming customers. “We are also in sync with the Cashless policy and presently, we are driving this policy in Lagos, and Nigeria at large, and this certainly makes our bank very fundamental to the nation’s goal of becoming one of the top 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020.”
To achieve a frontline position in the cashless policy drive, the Bank took proactive measures by rolling out various e-transaction services and products even before the new CBN policy came on stream.
For instance, FirstBank’s online-real time banking services have been in place for almost a decade in addition to massive deployment of alternative delivery channels like POS, ATM and Internet banking, amongst other products.
“We were able to recognise on time that in the increasingly dynamic and sophisticated business environment, the future of banking will be driven by e-banking, hence we established a dedicated e-banking department many years ago,” said Ani-Mumuney.
Emezino Afiegbe, head, Card Business, concurred stating the bank’s card business segment is focused on delivery world class solutions, hence it’s dealings are measured according to global best practices standard.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek learnt that the bank is already looking to the mobile telephony platform with a view to reaching the millions of ‘unbanked Nigerians.’ To achieve this, it has introduced the FirstMobile product which complements the existing FirstOnline.
“FirstMobile is aimed at reaching out to the millions of unbanked population who already have or intend to own a mobile phone. The majority of mobile phone users who may be classified uneducated are numeric literates. We are aware of success of such projects elsewhere and we think that with the large mobile phone subscription figures, mobile banking will be a huge success in Nigeria,” said Afiegbe.
Nigeria is Africa’s leading mobile phone market with nearly 100 million active subscribers. It also has the continent’s largest internet users with 45 million connections by December 2011.
News
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira

National Reading Culture (NRC), an online investment platform targeting Nigerians has collapsed, resulting in the loss of billions of Naira for investors.

The website unexpectedly shut down, blocking users from withdrawing their funds and locking in their investments.
Just like all other investment scams, victims were lured with promises of doubling their money in few weeks.
When National Reading Culture eventually crashed, the operators vanished with users’ funds, leaving investors devastated.
How the Platform WorkedTask-Based Earning:
According findings, National Reading Culture lured users with promises of making money by completing simple daily tasks like reading articles, clicking links, or inviting friends.
They also offered investment tiers to earn higher daily profits, where users had to deposit their own money into the platform.
Evidence showed the website previously operated as a Chinese job search platform before rebranding into an “earning” scheme.
News
NSITF Partners South African Insurer on Digital Transformation

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) to collaborate on digital transformation aimed at strengthening worker protection systems and support economic growth.

According to RMA, the agreement was concluded during a visit by its delegation to Abuja.
The partnership will focus on institutional capability development, modernising operating models, improving service delivery and sharing knowledge between the two organisations.
Through the partnership, RMA and NSITF will collaborate to strengthen institutional capability, modernise operating models, accelerate digital transformation and improve services for workers and employers.
The organisations will also explore opportunities for knowledge exchange and the adoption of best practices in social security administration.
RMA said the agreement forms part of its broader engagement with governments, regulators and social security institutions across Africa to support improvements in governance, operational resilience and service delivery.
“Our partnership with NSITF reflects much more than the signing of an agreement,” said Mandla Shezi, group chief executive officer of RMA. “This partnership is not simply about sharing knowledge. It is about co-creating the next generation of African social security systems.”
He added: “By combining our respective strengths, we can help build institutions that are more resilient, more responsive and better equipped to protect workers while supporting national development.”
Shezi said the future of social security depends on integrated systems where prevention, insurance, healthcare, rehabilitation, technology, investment management and institutional capability work together.
News
Senate Rejects Nationalisation of MTN, DStv Over Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

Senate on Tuesday rejected calls for the nationalisation of South African-owned companies operating in Nigeria, including MTN and DStv, as a retaliatory measure against renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The upper chamber, however, condemned the attacks and intimidation of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, urging the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the safety of Nigerians living in the country.
The resolutions followed a motion titled: “Motion on the Need to Halt the Recurring Xenophobic Attacks and Intimidation Against Nigerians and Other African Nationals in the Republic of South Africa,” sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC-Cross River South).
The motion was triggered by renewed concerns over attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa following the expiration of a June 30, 2026 deadline reportedly issued by some vigilante groups asking foreigners to leave the country.
During the debate, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun proposed that South African companies operating in Nigeria should be nationalised, while Senator Adams Oshiomhole suggested that profits generated by South African firms could be appropriated to compensate Nigerians who suffered losses if the South African government failed to provide compensation.
Oshiomhole argued that Nigerians should not continue to bear the consequences of attacks against their businesses and lives while South African companies operating in Nigeria continued to make profits.
He said the government should consider using profits from affected companies to compensate victims if South Africa refused to address the losses suffered by Nigerians.
However, the Senate declined the proposal, opting instead for diplomatic engagement and further investigation into the attacks.
Presiding over plenary, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin cautioned lawmakers against relying on unverified social media reports and urged a careful approach to the matter.
Jibrin said Nigeria must condemn attacks against its citizens but should allow relevant committees to complete their investigations before taking further actions.
He directed the Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations to review previous resolutions on the matter and submit a report within two weeks.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, to obtain written assurances from South African authorities on the protection of Nigerians and demand the arrest and prosecution of persons responsible for violence, intimidation and looting.
The lawmakers further called for collaboration with other African countries and relevant continental institutions to establish effective mechanisms for monitoring and preventing xenophobic attacks.
Senator Ekpenyong had earlier raised concerns that the attacks were no longer limited to undocumented migrants but had extended to Nigerians with valid work and residence permits.
He described the situation as a threat to the dignity and safety of Nigerians abroad, urging the government to take stronger measures to protect citizens.
The Senate’s latest action comes amid renewed public anger over attacks targeting Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa, with lawmakers insisting that diplomatic solutions should be prioritised over economic retaliation.
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