E-Financial
The Insecurity of Things
Evolution in technology is enabling more “things” to connect more often around the world, at a pace that’s showing no sign of slowing down.
By 2020, 70 percent of people across the world will be smartphone users and countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East will account for 80 percent of the new subscriptions.
More people currently have access to a mobile phone than a clean toilet, safe water or reliable energy – and their prevalence is expected to keep growing.
This has led to the inevitable widespread adoption of generic cloud and social technologies in emerging markets with access to freeware or inexpensive public services such as Gmail and Dropbox.
While this holds great opportunity for developing countries, the rapid spread of technology compounds a broader issue concerning infrastructure.
Within the developed world, the fines payable for not protecting personal data are hefty in regulated industries such as financial services and healthcare.
Governments have increasingly woken up to the seriousness of the cyber threat. To keep on top of the risks, more regulators have hardened their stance on cyber security infrastructure.
As cities in developing countries are expanding rapidly, it is likely that infrastructure will not be able to keep pace with their growth nor the increased expectations of their populations. This suggests lower standards of technology governance which can put personal data at risk.
Having said that, developing countries have the opportunity to leapfrog by avoiding the mistakes made by other advanced countries and applying the lessons learned from the development of smart city infrastructure.
If managed effectively, there is huge potential for technology to increase the efficiency with which developing infrastructure can be managed.
The use of big data, the Internet of Things and the ubiquitous nature of smartphones use promise to revolutionize developing cities to become truly smart cities built on safe and secure infrastructure.
The line between the digital and the physical world is blurring. Action to close the infrastructure gap has never been more important and will heavily influence the potential of risks with catastrophic cascading effects.
Securing the infrastructure – it starts at enrolment
In developing markets, where new players are able to gain early access, influence consumer behaviour and acceptance, it is easy to see how the systems established for payments will be under pressure by “quick and easy access”.
It could result in a weakening of the process, enabling non-credible players to enter the payment ecosystem.
It’s vital for secure infrastructure to be built from the ground up to minimise vulnerabilities and to keep pace with technological advancement.
EMV, widely known for its chip & PIN application, is a global security payment standard that serves as the foundation for future payment technologies, across cards, contactless, mobile and remote payment channels.
Already deployed in 150 countries, it is fundamental to building secure payment infrastructure. EMV technology allows dynamic data to be created, making each transaction unique and virtually impossible to replicate.
While research shows a 200 percent growth in transactions originating from mobile devices in 2015 compared to 2014, EMV has still not taken root in some of the world’s developing economies. Its effectiveness as a first line of defense is clear – with significant adoption of EMV transaction penetration (chip card on chip terminal transactions) in Africa and Middle East (61.2 percent), Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean (71.7 percent) and Western Europe (83.5 percent).[3]
Employing a multi-layered security approach for any organization is what will lead to decrease in fraud.
EMV is just the beginning. To ensure our consumers can benefit from the same level of safety in the digital world, we are basing our future payments products on proven technologies like M/Chip that significantly reduce counterfeit fraud.
M/Chip features in mobile phones will be a key component of emerging devices. The MasterCard Digital Enablement Service or MDES is our core platform for provisioning M/Chip-enabled payment devices with tokenized payment credentials.
MDES together with M/Chip provides the same level of EMV-like security and interoperability for the digital world as we have in the physical world
In addition, 3D Secure Standard is an automatic online security service that secures you against unauthorised use online. It uses a private code that gives added protection when you shop at participating online merchants.
Government adoption of secure technology can also be a part of the solution.
In Egypt, with 85 percent of the population lacking access to formal banking, the mobile phone is rapidly becoming the method of choice for making payments and managing money.
The Central Bank of Egypt issued strict mobile payment regulations to guarantee safety and security for people, resulting in significant reduction in fraud.
This is indeed a necessity considering that the mobile penetration in Egypt is currently at 115 percent of the total population, meaning that some people have more than one phone.
Similarly in Thailand, the government is taking active steps to improve cybersecurity for electronic transaction on mobile phones. Being the second largest smartphone market in Southeast Asia, the country is pursuing its ambition to become a cashless society.
Here, the government is relying on biometric technology to prove people’s identity via mobile phones as a means to reduce fraud. Like Egypt, Thailand’s saturated mobile phone market is relied upon heavily for payments and money transfers.
Nigeria is another example of how deploying secure infrastructure has resulted in huge benefits to the country’s development. Nigeria’s National Identity Smart Cards are embedded with biometric identification chips and electronic payment capabilities, another example of biometric technology being employed to curb fraud. The introduction of the chips helped reduce fraud from counterfeit cards and transactions in Nigeria.
Adapting known solutions for a digital world
The security solutions that already exist in the physical world are ready to be implemented in the digital world. We just need the motivation, regulation and coordination to ensure everyone is able to benefit, wherever they are in the world. The alternative, in today’s unregulated environment of the Internet of Things development, could be a thing of security nightmares.
Working in partnership with those who can make a difference is vital to remain one step ahead and change the current mindset from one that sees security innovations as optional, to one that recognises they are an absolute necessity.
Through the right global standards, best products and services, and our desire to constantly innovate, we can ensure everyone is protected and financially included everywhere, which will ultimately define and defend the future of payments.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the enforcement date for the mandatory geo-fencing of Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminals to August 1, 2026, in a move aimed at giving financial institutions and payment service providers additional time to comply with the regulatory framework.
The directive was contained in a circular dated May 29, 2026, signed by Dr. Rakiya Yusuf, director of the Payments System Supervision Department, and obtained from the apex bank’s website on Friday.
The circular was addressed to Deposit Money Banks, Microfinance Banks, Mobile Money Operators, Switching and Processing Companies, Payment Terminal Service Providers, Payment Solution Service Providers, Super Agents and other licensed operators in the financial ecosystem.
According to the CBN, the extension followed stakeholder engagements and operational considerations arising from earlier directives issued in August 2025 on ISO 20022 migration and mandatory geo-tagging of payment terminals.
The apex bank also announced adjustments to the framework, increasing the permissible geo-fence radius for PoS terminals from 10 metres to 70 metres, in addition to shifting the enforcement deadline.
“Geo-fence radius is hereby increased from 10 metres to 70 metres,” the circular stated, adding that enforcement of the requirement has been moved to August 1, 2026.
Geo-fencing is designed to restrict PoS operations to approved merchant locations, strengthening transaction monitoring and reducing fraud within the electronic payment system.
The CBN directed all affected institutions to submit evidence of compliance on or before July 31, 2026, through the Payments System Supervision Department.
“Evidence of compliance to the above should be addressed… not later than July 31, 2026,” the circular added.
Financial institutions were also instructed to resolve all outstanding technical and operational issues with the National Central Switch to ensure seamless implementation.
The extension is expected to provide operators additional time to upgrade systems and align with regulatory requirements ahead of full enforcement.
Nigerian capital market will officially transition to a one-day (T+1) settlement cycle on Monday, June 1, 2026, cutting the time required to finalise securities and commodities transactions in half.
The mandate, formally announced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires all eligible trades to settle exactly one business day after the trade date, replacing the previous two-day (T+2) standard.
The SEC noted that the journey from T+3 to T+2, and now to T+1, took less than seven months, highlighting an aggressive push toward market modernisation.
To ensure a seamless launch, the SEC has outlined a unique convergence window for the transition.
Friday, served as the final trading day under the old T+2 system, consequently, trades executed on both May 29 and Monday, June 1, will visually converge and settle on the exact same day: Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
From June 1 onward, all transactions will strictly operate under the 24-hour T+1 timeline.
The migration is being coordinated on the technical front by the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), the market’s central depository, alongside major securities exchanges, trade associations, and brokerage firms.
According to financial regulators, the compressed timeline will immediately benefit retail investors by providing quicker access to cash proceeds from share sales.
For institutional players and custodians, the shift requires an immediate reconfiguration of back-office systems and reconciliation workflows to meet the faster execution demands.
Mr. Shehu Yahaya Shantali, managing director and chief executive officer of CSCS, stated that the infrastructure overhaul positions Nigeria alongside top-tier international frameworks.
“The transition to T+1 represents another important milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure.
“It reflects the market’s readiness to embrace reforms that enhance efficiency, strengthen investor confidence, improve liquidity, and align Nigeria more closely with leading global markets,” Shantali said.
Shantali credited the market-wide readiness to months of intensive system upgrades and joint planning spearheaded by the SEC and the T+1 Implementation Plan Committee.
By compressing the settlement cycle, the SEC aims to reduce counterparty exposure, lower systemic settlement risks, and boost overall market liquidity.
The regulator emphasised that this reform bridges the infrastructure gap with developed economies, following the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which migrated to T+1 in May 2024, as well as India’s recent strides toward instantaneous settlement.
The SEC stated it will continue to monitor operational workflows and engage market participants through its automated division ([email protected]) to ensure an orderly transition.
To formalise the launch, CSCS and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) will host a joint Special Closing Gong ceremony on June 1 at the NGX House in Lagos, drawing together institutional heavyweights and regulatory bodies to mark the start of the live environment.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc’s international subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited, has announced a commitment to support Nigerians – both individuals and corporations – in acquiring properties in the United Kingdom.
L – R: The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FidBank UK Ltd, Mr. Johnson Ememandu; Chairman, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu; British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter; and Chairman, FidBank UK Ltd and Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; at the FidBank UK Ltd exclusive product showcase held at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos recently.
Fidbank UK which provides a comprehensive suite of financial services, including trade finance, personal and business banking, treasury services, commercial lending, and private banking, is set to deliver tailored financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) seeking to invest in the UK real estate market through its FidBank Buy-to-Let product.
This announcement was made at an exclusive product showcase hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter at his Residence in Lagos on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The event was attended by a select audience comprising captains of industry and corporate leaders.
Highlighting the significance of the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FidBank UK Ltd, Mr. Johnson Enemadu, said: “This event is about showcasing to the market and our customers that there is something exciting in the market and we are able to take them along in this journey, supporting their businesses by bringing capital both in the financial institutions and corporate space and also for our high networth inidividuals. It is a total experience.
“Today’s event is also taking place against the backdrop of strengthened bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, highlighted by the recent state visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the UK. This renewed engagement between both countries continues to unlock new pathways for trade, investment, and financial collaboration; and FidBank UK is pleased to play a leading role in driving this.”
In his welcome remarks, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter said: “The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to deepening its economic partnership with Nigeria, with a clear focus on driving inclusive, sustainable investment, trade and economic growth. London’s position as a leading global financial centre is central to this, supported by robust financial infrastructure that enables efficient trade flows and seamless cross-border transactions between our markets.
It is therefore encouraging to see institutions such as FidBank UK advancing financial service offerings that not only expand investment opportunities in the UK, but also strengthen the financial systems supporting growing commercial ties. We welcome and support efforts that continue to enhance liquidity, facilitate trade, and drive sustainable UK-Nigeria economic connections.”
The well-attended event also featured art exhibitions by two of Nigeria’s leading visual art talents -Femi Morakinyo and Oswald Chukwunyeremugo – who displayed their latest works to the admiration of the guests.
Also speaking at the event, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, lauded the initiative as it aligned with the administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda, saying:
“FidBank UK offers a private banking relationship grounded in regulatory rigour and institutional trust. This is not a catalogue of products, it is a comprehensive financial architecture built for people who live, work and invest across the Nigerian-UK corridor”.
Operating from the heart of the City of London since 1983, FidBank UK provides a comprehensive range of banking services to customers doing business from and into Nigeria and other West African countries, including trade finance, personal banking, business banking, treasury services, commercial lending and private banking.
The bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority and subscribe to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
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