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Revving Up Service Delivery with NQR Feature on ALAT
The onboarding of the New Quick Response (NQR) feature unto ALAT, Wema Bank’s digital banking platform, underscores how technology innovations continue to impact service delivery and contributions of banks in Nigeria to the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in continuation of implementation of National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS), and other macroeconomic initiatives of the Federal Government geared towards accelerating national economic growth, approved the Framework for Quick Response (QR) Code payments in Nigeria, in January 2021.
Principal objective of the framework was to promote the use and adoption of electronic payments, foster innovation in payments system, and strengthen institutional framework for economic and financial industry stability in the country.
In addition to detailing the regulatory guidance, the aims of the framework include ensuring the adoption of appropriate QR Code standards for safe and efficient payments services in Nigeria. Participants approved for the implementation of QR Code payments include merchants, customers, issuers including banks, money market operators and other financial institutions, as well as payment service providers.
For banks, the guidelines also permit them the use of any other QR Code Standard provided, it meets the prescribed security requirements, demonstrate interoperability with other existing implementation in the industry and/or offer cost benefits to end users (merchants and customers).
By increasing their investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and capacity building for digital teams, banks in Nigeria are among the leading positive change agents that are widening access to financial services for the unbanked and underserved to be onboarded unto the financial inclusion bucket.
In Nigeria, QR payments system in particular is increasingly becoming more popular, because they offer wide range applicability. QR codes help businesses create customer engagements and sustain relationships. They are simple and easy to set up at no cost. QR codes enable users to receive payments from more than one customer at once.
Transactions can be initiated from start to finish without you having to be there so, users can free up their time to do other things. QR codes help bridge the gap between face-to-face and digital by allowing customers to pay with their preferred digital wallets.
Also, QR payments help merchants or businesses to work with brands to streamline their payments offerings across all channels – online, in-app and in-store and to scale their operations domestically and cross-border. They also drive smartphone penetration, financial inclusion and cashless economy.
In further demonstration of its commitment to consistently stay at the forefront of deploying digital technology to make service delivery more convenient, faster and better for the customers, ALAT, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, recently increased its offerings with the inclusion of the new quick response (NQR) code-based payments and collections solution to boost convenient and safe financial transactions.
With the NQR feature on ALAT, existing customers and non-customers can now enjoy code-based payment and collections solution that provides fast, easy, secure, reliable, contactless and account-based options to receive and pay for goods and services.
Merchants, business owners and individuals by displaying the QR Codes generated on ALAT, can henceforth receive payments at their locations for goods and services.
All that a customer needs to do is to select the NQR option on their bank’s mobile application and scan the displayed NQR Codes to make payment to the merchant. The merchants/business owners and payers get instant notification of payment made.
The benefits of the NQR on ALAT include simplicity of use, easy setup, zero cost of acquisition, and a seamless merchant onboarding process. Other benefits are super-fast deployment, instant payment and settlement, and fast and secured payment.
On the level of transaction that can be done using the new feature, transaction limits are determined by the payer’s bank. However, transactions below N250 would attract 50 kobo, while those between N25 and N999.99 would be charged N1.
NQR on ALAT also offers the lowest service fees unavailable anywhere in the industry today. Transactions ranging between N1000 and N4,999.99 will attract N5, just as those between N5000 and above would pay the applicable fee of N25.
Another uniqueness of the NQR on ALAT is that it is a safe platform, as the exchange of information via the QR code ensures that any transmitted data on the technology is encrypted, thus making the payment secure.
“Also, NQR is built around the universal EMVCO Security Standards. In addition, customers are protected by a secret 4-digit PIN used to consummate transactions and known to only the payer,” Wema Bank stated.
To enjoy the new service, customers will need to set up NQR on ALAT by first updating the ALAT app to the latest version before login into the ALAT app as a payer. Then select payment, QR payment to scan a code directly or from their galleries.
Merchants and receivers are also to log in to the ALAT app and select payments, QR payment and then create merchant and sub-merchant display the QR code to receive payment.
QR code payment methods have become one of the fastest-growing payment methods in the world. They are also one of the most efficient and simple ways to share information and complete online payments.
According to Juniper Research, 1.5bn people worldwide used QR codes to make payments in 2020 as usage soared during the Covid-19 pandemic, while forecasting that by 2025, as many as 30% of all mobile users will pay with QR codes.
Juniper Research further said that QR usage is bigger in China where it had become popular as far back as 2010 and account for one-third of all payments today, amounting to $1.65trillion in QR code sales.
QR Code is a machine-scannable image that can instantly be read using a smartphone camera. Every QR consists of black squares and dots which represent certain pieces of information. When your smartphone scans this code, it translates such information into something that can be easily understood by humans.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over its failure to account for the alleged missing ₦500 billion, which the company reportedly failed to remit to the Federation Account between October and December 2024.
SERAP’s legal action comes after allegations made by the World Bank, which revealed that out of the ₦1.1 trillion generated from crude sales and other income sources in 2024, NNPC only remitted ₦600 billion.
This left a deficit of ₦500 billion, which remains unaccounted for.
According to the lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday, the organisation is demanding that NNPC explain the whereabouts of this missing amount.
The suit, number FHC/L/MSC/553/2025, seeks to compel NNPC to account for the missing funds.
In the legal documents, SERAP is asking for an order of mandamus to direct NNPC to account for the alleged missing ₦500 billion.
The organisation also wants the court to instruct NNPC to invite appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate the spending and whereabouts of the funds.
Furthermore, SERAP requests that those responsible for the missing money be identified, held accountable, and handed to relevant authorities for investigation and prosecution.
The lawsuit follows NNPC’s response to SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FoI) request, where the company argued that the FoI Act does not apply to it.
NNPC’s lawyers, Afe Babalola and Co, claimed that the company is exempt from the FoI Act.
SERAP, however, argues that the NNPC must comply with the Nigerian Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act, along with international human rights and anti-corruption standards, in exercising its statutory functions.
In the suit, SERAP emphasizes that the missing funds have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s economic instability, including the country’s high deficit spending and crippling debt crisis.
The organisation argues that the NNPC’s failure to remit these funds has worsened an already precarious economic situation.
SERAP also stresses that the missing oil revenues reflect a broader failure in NNPC’s accountability and transparency. The organisation highlights that the company’s continuing disregard for these principles damages the country’s economic well-being and governance systems.
The lawsuit also references a recent Supreme Court ruling, which declared that the Freedom of Information Act applies to public records in the Federation, including those kept by NNPC. SERAP calls on the court to enforce the application of this ruling in the case at hand.
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Oluwakemi Oni, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part, “Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing public funds from the NNPCL meant for the economic development of the country.”
“There is a legitimate public interest in providing the details sought. The NNPC has a legal responsibility to account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing oil money.”
“The country’s oil wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and for the sake of the present and future generations.”
“Without the full recovery and remittance of the missing ₦500 billion oil revenues, the dire economic situation may worsen and Nigerians will continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services.”
“Nigerians have the right to know why the NNPCL failed to remit the subsidy removal savings to the Federation Account, and why the NNPCL is deliberately denying states and local governments their allocations from the Account, contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.”
“The failure by the NNPCL to remit the money to the Federation Account is a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anticorruption laws, and the country’s anticorruption obligations.”
“Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived minimal benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.”
“Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations.”
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding the spending of their commonwealth.”
“The Auditor-General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have for many years documented reports of disappearance of oil money from the NNPCL.”
“The World Bank recently disclosed that out of the N1.1tn revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600bn, leaving a deficit of ₦500bn unaccounted for.”
“The revenue and other income were expected to be paid into the Federation Account and shared by all levels of government but the NNPCL reportedly failed to do so.”
“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution.”
“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.”
“These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected.”
“The missing oil revenue has also impeded Nigerians’ ability to enjoy their economic and social rights, and denied them access to essential public goods and services, especially at the time of the cost of living crisis in the country.”
“Had the NNPCL accounted for and remitted the alleged missing ₦500 billion to the Federation Account, it is likely that more funds would have been allocated to the fulfilment of economic and social rights, such as increased spending on public goods and services.”
“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information on the whereabouts of the missing ₦500 billion of oil revenue.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
The leadership of Computer Village, Ikeja, has begun a biometric registration and enumeration exercise to sanitise the market, curb criminal activity, and restore investor confidence.
In a statement, Abisola Azeez, Iyaloja, described the initiative as part of a broader rebranding effort to address issues like phone snatching, fraudulent technicians, and substandard goods.
It stated, “The market’s leadership announced the move after a recent security incident led the Lagos State Task Force to consider a complete shutdown. However, market representatives intervened to safeguard legitimate traders. Under the new rules, only registered vendors with ID cards displayed at their stalls will be allowed to operate.
Approved street setups will be limited to plastic chairs, show glasses, and umbrellas, while wooden structures and open flames are banned to reduce fire hazards.”
Adeniyi Olasoji, baba Oja, noted the market’s damaged image, emphasising new security measures like CCTV, emergency alert systems, and increased collaboration with law enforcement.
“Other leaders, including Prince Tony Nwakeze, Ralph Chibuzor, Ben Onuorah, Nofiu Akinsanya, and Ikani Tony, affirmed the move as essential for transforming Computer Village into a structured, globally competitive digital hub.
The registration will be completed within two months, after which only verified traders will be allowed to operate.
Meanwhile, Fidelix Ezeugwu, executive secretary of the Ikeja Market Board, emphasised the market’s unified leadership, comprising representatives from four major ethnic groups, and the importance of updated data to align with global standards.
He said, “Additional upgrades include installation of walkie-talkies for improved communication, enhanced street lighting, and CCTV cameras to monitor activity.
“These improvements aim to position Computer Village as a world-class market, comparable to international hubs like Dubai and Singapore.”
First Asset Management Limited, a subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc, has received the prestigious Fund Manager of the Year 2024 award. This accolade was conferred during the inaugural Capital Market Choice Awards, hosted by Nairametrics Financial Advocate Limited, underscoring the firm’s commitment to excellence and wealth creation.
The prestigious awards ceremony honoured the significant achievements of key players in the financial market, including operators, regulators, investors, and stakeholders. Their commitment and impact were crucial in fostering the growth and stability of Nigeria’s capital markets industry in 2024.
First Asset Management has received recognition for its commitment to quality service and innovation in the investment and asset management industry. This recognition reflects the firm’s exceptional performance, excellence in service delivery, and significant contributions to the financial ecosystem.
Ike Onyia, Managing Director/CEO of First Asset Management, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and commended Nairametrics for its diligence and transparency in the award process.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition, which validates our unwavering commitment to delivering value to our clients and stakeholders. Client satisfaction is at the core of our operations. This award motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and providing innovative investment solutions,” he stated.
He further emphasised the company’s commitment to deploying customised investment strategies that address the varied objectives of its clients.
First Asset Management continues to elevate its reputation with an impressive collection of awards. For over five years, the firm has been celebrated as the Best Asset Manager in Nigeria at the EMEA Finance: African Banking Awards.
The firm has also earned recognition as a Great Place to Work and won the prestigious Excellence in Asset Management award at the 2024 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, showcasing its commitment to outstanding performance and a positive workplace culture.
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