Mastercard, global technology company in the payments industry and BMONI, smart digital wallet designed as a modern alternative to traditional banks have partnered to launch a new suite of virtual and physical payment cards in Nigeria, marking a significant step in the country’s expanding digital payments ecosystem.

The new cards, available in both Naira and US dollars, are designed to support seamless domestic and international transactions.

The partnership combines Mastercard’s global payments infrastructure with BMONI’s AI-powered financial platform to deliver one of Nigeria’s first locally issued international card programmes focused on multi-currency functionality and instant digital access.

The launch comes as Nigeria’s e-commerce market continues to grow rapidly, with increasing demand for globally accepted digital payment solutions.

Through the BMONI mobile app, users can instantly create multiple virtual cards tailored for different spending needs, including travel, subscriptions, online shopping, and daily expenses.

The platform aims to give users greater visibility and control over spending through real-time tracking and customizable card management features.

Folasade Femi-Lawal, country manager for West Africa at Mastercard, said the collaboration aligns with the country’s accelerating digital transformation.

“This collaboration brings together a trusted global network with an innovative platform to deliver real value—instant card access, multi-currency flexibility, and seamless cross-border transaction capabilities,” she said.

Ashwin Ravichandran, head of Product at BMONI, said the partnership is focused on improving financial accessibility and user control.

“Our goal is to remove friction between people and their money. Partnering with Mastercard allows us to provide global access and financial control at a level previously unavailable to Nigerian consumers,” Ravichandran said.

The launch reflects a broader FinTech trend across Africa, where digital-first financial services providers are increasingly partnering with global payment networks to expand access to cross-border commerce, embedded finance, and multi-currency payment solutions.

The service is now live, with users able to access the offering directly through the BMONI app.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has intensified nationwide disease surveillance following reports of a Hantavirus infection cluster connected to international cruise ship travel involving several countries.

Dr Jide Idris, director-general, NCDC, in a public health advisory, confirmed that Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Hantavirus case and stated that the overall public health risk remains low.

According to the agency, the reported outbreak currently involves a limited number of confirmed and suspected infections linked to cruise ship exposure, while international investigations and contact tracing efforts continue.

The NCDC explained that the advisory was released to strengthen national preparedness and encourage vigilance against emerging infectious diseases amid growing global concern surrounding the outbreak.

Health authorities noted that Hantaviruses are mainly transmitted through exposure to infected rodents, their urine, saliva, droppings, or contaminated dust particles. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, gastrointestinal illness, and in severe cases, respiratory complications.

The current outbreak has reportedly been associated with the Andes virus strain, which has shown limited human-to-human transmission through close contact in previous cases.

The NCDC stated that enhanced monitoring systems have been activated nationwide to support early detection and rapid response efforts.

The agency also urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, prevent rodent infestations, safely store food items, and avoid exposure to rodents and contaminated environments.

Officials further advised the public to rely only on verified information from recognized health authorities and avoid spreading misinformation regarding the outbreak.

Metro Digital Limited, a  licenced Indigenous broadcasting organisation,  has accused Multichoice, pay television company, of refusing to obey judgements emanating from Courts in Nigeria.

It said the latest of such judgements is the one that was delivered by Justice Chinelo Odili of Rivers State High Court on May 4, 2026 in Suit No. PHC/3943/FHR/2025.

Dr. Paul Osuji, operations manager of Metro Digital,  at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,

said the suit was filed by the organisation and two others against Multichoice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Osuji stated that Justice Odili has in the judgement described the arrest of a staff member of the company and the carting away of it’s properties and disruption of it’s broadcasting business by the EFCC over a civil dispute of copyrighy as unlawful and violations of the applicants’ rights.

The manager recalled that in October 2025, Multichoice instigated the EFCC to read their office in Port Harcourt, arrested a staff of the company and staff of another company, while the suit was still pending.

“On October 16, 2025, the premises of Metro Digital Limited, a licenced indigenous broadcasting organisation was raided by the Nigerian anti-graft agency, EFCC, instigated by Multichoice Nigeria, purportedly acting on a preservation order made by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over the sub licensing of broadcasting content right.

“The preservation order came from a civil dispute already adjudicated by the Court of Appeal No. CA/CS/188/2021 – Multichoice Vs Metro Digital Limited and 20 others, which is a subject of a pending appeal -No. SC/CV/1248/2022 -Multichoice and 20 others before the Supreme Court.

“Instructively, while suit No. PHC/ 3943/ FHR/2025 was still pending, Metro Digital Limited filed an application to set aside the said preservation orders of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Hon. Justice A.T Mohammed.

“In his ruling delivered on December 10, 2025, set aside the preservation orders and it’s legal execution on Metro Digital Limited. The court also ordered EFCC to return unconditionally all the properties and records of Metro Digital Limited, illegally and unlawfully carted away during the raid but the agency has till today not obeyed those orders of the Court,” he said.

Metro Digital Limited is known for operating SLTV, a direct-to-home satellite television service launched to provide affordable, locally-owned alternatives to international pay TV