E-Business
Medallion Democratizes Data Centre Service in Nigeria
Engr. Ike Nnamani, managing director, Medallion Communications, a data centre operator in the country has attributed the emergence of his company’s data centre as the most connected data centre in the country to the democratization policy being implemented at its data centres.
Nnamani stated this in a chat with Nigeria Communicationsweek, explaining that they accommodate both small and big operators with cost effective pricing.
“We are able to provide a carrier neutral infrastructure where they are not afraid they are dealing with a competitor. Any service our customers are offering from our data centre, we at Medallion don’t go and start competing with them to offer such service. That gives them the confident that truly they are at carrier neutral place.
“We also enable every one of our customers to be treated equally no matter their size, whether you are big like MTN or small operator, we give every of them equal opportunity to do their business in efficient and cost effective way.
“We make sure we don’t fall below availability and the minimum standard. Of course pricing is important; I don’t think we are the most expensive in the market. You have to ensure that your client can afford the cost of the services you are offering them. Clearly, Medallion data centre is the most connected presently,” he said.
Nnamani frowned at the use of Tier certification as a marketing tool in the market, noting that the standard specified by Uptime Institute that manages those certifications are minimum standard that every data centre should be operating at even higher especially in our environment where companies almost operate their own power system.
“Uptime Institute is assuming for instant, if you have data centre in California and unfortunately because of the California fire issue that took place last year and your data centre had to be cut off from the public power supply, within the data centre do you have availability of power? That will last for 72 hours which is Tier 111 certification, which means you should be self- sustaining in power for 72 hours if there no public power supply.
“If you are operating a data centre in California with Tier 111 certification, you have to show outside of the traditional power supply that you have built redundancy, if it goes off you can self-sustain yourself either on battery back- ups, generators or some other means that will ensure that your data centre should be operational for 72 hours in case of Tier 111 certification.
“It becomes interesting when you bring such requirement into our climate, where you usually operate your data centre almost on private power supply, like our data centre we operate seven days straight on self -generating power, because the public power supply from PHCN is not available.
“So, how many Tier will you put such a data centre? From power perspective it becomes interesting when you look at markets like ours. There was a particular case we were on our self –generating power for more than five weeks running.
“Although there are areas that uptime institute looks at but the key point is power. They also look at redundancy; for instance, you should maintain dual power feed equipment to data centre.
“My take is that Tier certification is important because it gives a guide to minimum service level you should attain as a data centre operator. It is worth doing or attaining.
“Where I have a problem is when people start using it as a marketing tool as if it is a big deal then I have a problem with that because by default every data centre should operate at that standard,” he added.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued a regulatory advisory to data controllers and processors across the country following what it described as escalating threats to Nigeria’s data security architecture.
NDPC
In a statement signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, lead of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, the commission said its technical assessment revealed that some shadowy threat actors were engaged in coordinated operations targeting financial systems and critical digital infrastructure in Nigeria.
The commission urged public institutions to comply with the presidential directive of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which emphasises the strategic importance of data in national development.
According to the NDPC, the President had declared that “data is the new oil,” stressing the need for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to rigorously capture and safeguard information in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
The commission therefore advised all data controllers and processors to urgently strengthen their technical and organisational measures to protect personal data and ensure compliance with the law.
It listed key measures to include the appointment of trained and certified Data Protection Officers, implementation of comprehensive privacy policies and information security standards, as well as conducting Data Privacy Impact Assessments.
Other measures recommended by the NDPC include deployment of robust identity and access controls such as Multi-Factor Authentication, adoption of zero-trust security architecture, prompt remediation of system vulnerabilities, and continuous patch management.
The commission also emphasised the need to secure cloud infrastructure, application programming interfaces (APIs), databases and access credentials, alongside real-time monitoring, logging and threat detection systems.
Further recommendations include encryption and secure credential handling, regular vulnerability assessment and penetration testing of critical systems, as well as routine backup and resilience testing.
The NDPC warned that organisations that fail to implement appropriate data protection measures in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 risk legal liabilities.
It reiterated its commitment to providing regulatory support to organisations while ensuring the protection of personal data and strengthening institutional resilience across all sectors.
The forex market across Africa is witnessing more participants and more regulatory attention than it did just a few years ago. This growth is part of a bigger picture: Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to expand by 4.3% in 2026, while global forex turnover already hit an estimated $9.6 trillion daily in April 2025. However, there’s more to it than macroeconomic figures.
The trends reshaping the market are happening from within. Here are six worth paying close attention to.
1. Trading Has Moved to the Phone
The number of people accessing the market via mobile phones exceeds those accessing it via traditional bank systems. GSMA states that in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, there are more than 1.1 billion registered mobile money accounts.
The International Monetary Fund states that digitalisation and increased usage of the internet are changing payment systems in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
Mobile access changes traders’ behavior. It lowers the barrier to entry and speeds up deposits and withdrawals. Therefore, brokers who can provide a quality mobile trading experience will have a huge advantage.
2. Regulators Are Watching
The market is becoming more structured and more transparent. In South Africa, the FSCA regulates market conduct for financial institutions. In Kenya, the Capital Markets Authority regulates capital markets and maintains a licensing system that includes online forex brokers.
Nigeria’s SEC has publicly warned that online retail forex trading can be subject to abuse when unregulated. It also provides tools for investors to check operators’ registrations.
As a result, in 2026, more traders are likely to favour brokers that can show clear licensing, transparent operations, and stronger investor safeguards.
3. Volatility Varies by Country
A common mistake is perceiving the African market as one entity. In reality, according to RegTech Afrika, there are 21 countries out of a total of 54 that have a chance of seeing their currencies depreciate in 2025, with some of them losing value by as much as 6% or more.
A trader watching the rand, naira, shilling, or cedi, regional headlines needs more than regional headlines. Country-level macro data, central bank moves, and the US dollar will still play a major role.
4. Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure Is Quietly Improving
Platforms like PAPSS are helping make payments across African countries faster and easier to complete in local currencies. According to official announcements of PAPSS, it has become operational in 18 countries across Africa, with its latest launch in Algeria in 2025. It has also become operational in Kenya through a partnership with KCB Group, as well as in Rwanda through a partnership with Bank of Kigali.
Step by step, Africa is becoming a more financially connected continent.
5. Execution Quality Is the New Standard
Data from the BIS shows that in April 2025, three-quarters of FX trades were intermediated by the global centers of the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Therefore, the best liquidity and best prices are still linked to global conditions.
For local markets, this raises the bar. Forex traders are becoming increasingly aware that tight spreads, while important, mean little without reliable prices and execution. Brokers like JustMarkets that can bring all of these elements together are in a much stronger position than competitors.
6. Education as a Necessity
Regulatory disclosures from major global brokers illustrate how tough it is to trade without proper knowledge. According to publicly available disclosures, between 70% and 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Forex traders who understand risk management and which financial news to follow have a better chance of surviving the market. Brokers who invest in education are more likely to be seen by traders as valuable partners rather than mere facilitators.
The Market Rewards the Prepared
Africa’s forex market in 2026 is shaped by volatility, stricter rules, and mobile-first trading. The traders who combine market knowledge with the right tools and the right broker will find real opportunity here, while those who don’t adapt will find the market increasingly unforgiving.
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has raised alarm over a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorised access to parts of its information systems, urging users to update their login credentials as a precaution.
In a public notice yesterday, CAC, informed stakeholders that the Commission is currently reviewing the breach and assessing its potential impact.
According to the Commission, response protocols have been activated, with containment measures already in place to safeguard affected systems.
The CAC stated that it is working closely with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other relevant government agencies and partners to determine the scope of the incident and prevent further compromise.
“Appropriate containment measures have been implemented, and additional safeguards are in place,” the Commission stated, while advising users to monitor activities on the CAC portal and remain cautious of unsolicited communications that may arise from the breach.
Reports online claim that as many as 25 million documents may have been exfiltrated from the Commission’s infrastructure.
The claims, attributed to a cybercrime-tracking account, have not been independently verified, and the CAC has not confirmed the figures or identified any perpetrators.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the security of Nigeria’s corporate registry, particularly given the Commission’s increasing reliance on digital systems.
In February 2026, the CAC disclosed that it processes up to 10,000 business registration requests daily, following the deployment of artificial intelligence across its service delivery platforms.
It also handles an average of 5,000 customer enquiries each day via emails and call centres.
Despite the breach, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity and security of its systems, assuring stakeholders that updates will be provided as investigations progress.
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