News
Value of Distributor Management System to Nigerian FMCG Companies

Most Nigerian Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies still do not have visibility of their distribution chain.
For a product manufactured for instance in Agbara, Lagos State to get to the end consumer located say in Sokoto State, the product typically has to go through an elongated, shrouded chain of distributors, sub distributors, wholesalers, sub-wholesalers and retailers.
As the product makes its way through this opaque network, the manufacturer loses visibility and control of the product’s placement.
At best, most manufacturers can monitor the movements of their products only up to the sub distributor stage.
The questions that readily come to mind are: why must Nigerian FMCG companies operate under this distribution model where they lack visibility of product movement and access to information? How can this situation be remedied or improved?
Nigeria like most Sub Saharan Africa countries (except South Africa), is still in the initial stages of supply chain development characterized by poor infrastructure such as poor intermodal transport systems (roads, railway, water, air), and limited data automation. The schematic below shows how Nigeria compares to some select developed countries with respect to supply chain development.
The complexity of the Nigerian supply chain is further compounded by the proliferation of diverse sales channels such as open air markets, moms & pops stores, corner shops, street vendors, “aboki” stalls and formal retail channels.
To truly understand the degree of complexity of the Nigerian distribution model, one can compare with the relatively straight forward formal distribution models operated in the developed countries.
Here, after products are manufactured, they are moved directly to retail channels such as supermarkets or open air markets, or to distribution centres and then to the retail channels. The degree of separation between manufacturer and final consumer is small.
So given the complex and challenging nature of the Nigerian supply chain, manufacturers are forced to rely on an intricate web of distributors, sub distributors, stockists, sub stockists, wholesalers, sub wholesalers and retailers to reach consumers.
One obvious drawback is the very limited or almost non-existent flow of information across this supply chain. Consumer purchase information hardly flows back to the manufacturer.
Indeed, consumer information that gets to the manufacturer through the supply chain is mostly limited to sales information obtained when they invoice goods to distributors or to the Modern Trade.
This brings up the other strategic question: How can this situation be remedied or improved?
One way of improving visibility of a product’s movement and information flow across the Nigerian supply chain is through the use of a Distributor Management System.
Distributor Management System (DMS):
A DMS consists of 3 main devices. 1) handheld selling devices used by the distributor salesmen for order capture, 2) back end systems that the handheld sales devices link with and the distributor can use to also monitor inventory position, and 3) back end systems that sit with the manufacturer that he can use to monitor the distributors sales and inventory activities.
Without a DMS, a manufacturer has visibility of his product movement and consumer information as far as the distributor (primary sales). With DMS, a manufacturer can extend this visibility as far as the customers of the distributor i.e. sub distributors, wholesalers and even retailers.
Specifically, a manufacturer can enjoy the following improvements upon implementing a DMS such as Newspage improved: visibility into Distributors’ activities & better control of distributor’s business; Control over warehouses, pricing, promotions & surveys; results & Performance reporting; visibility into distributors inventory and sales reps performance & Secondary sales data; increased sales calls and sales volume; market intelligence and Van-to-Van transfer tracking for field force.
News
WHO Says Ebola Outbreak Worse than Reported

World Health Organisation (WHO) at the weekend declared the Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain a global public health emergency.

WHO said there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain of Ebola.
At home, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said there is “no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria” but had tightened surveillance against the deadly virus.
The outbreak, linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already caused dozens of deaths in Congo and spread into Uganda, raising fears of wider transmission across the region.
In response, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that the country remains on alert because of growing movement across African borders.
Jide Idris, director-general said the agency was “closely monitoring the situation” and working with the Port Health Services and other health agencies to strengthen preparedness nationwide.
He added that surveillance has been increased at entry points and within Nigeria’s health system.
According to the WHO, the outbreak has recorded more than 240 suspected cases and about 80 suspected deaths in Congo’s Ituri province, while imported cases have also been confirmed in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
The WHO said the outbreak is “extraordinary” because of uncertainty around the true number of infections and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain.
Health authorities advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with infected persons and report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting and bleeding to the nearest health facility immediately.
Nigeria was declared Ebola-free in 2014 after successfully containing an outbreak brought into the country by an infected traveler from Liberia.
News
Digital PayExpo 2026 to Convene Africa’s Most Influential Payments Leaders in Lagos

Africa’s digital payments ecosystem will take center stage as Digital PayExpo 2026 returns to Lagos on June 17–18, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, under the theme: “Seamless Digital: Fostering Pan-African Market Expansion in the AI Era.”

At a time when artificial intelligence, cross-border commerce, and financial inclusion are redefining Africa’s economic future, the event is set to convene over 3,000 senior executives, policymakers, fintech innovators, and global technology providers.
The speaker lineup reflects a powerful blend of regulatory leadership, private sector innovation, and pan-African expertise.
Among the headline speakers:
- Dr. Rakiya Yusuf, Director, Payment Systems Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria — a key architect in Nigeria’s payment system reforms.
- Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager & Area Business Head (West Africa), Mastercard — a leading voice in digital payments expansion across Africa.
- Clara B. Arthur, Managing Director, GhIPSS (Ghana) — driving Ghana’s interoperable payment ecosystem.
- Wacera Maina, Chief Operations Officer, Kenwitch Kenya — an expert in East Africa’s payment infrastructure evolution.
- Akeem Lawal, CEO, Interswitch Group — a pioneer in Africa’s fintech growth story.
- Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director, NIBSS — shaping Nigeria’s core payment infrastructure.
The conference will explore:
- AI-powered financial services
- Cross-border payment systems and interoperability
- Cybersecurity and trust frameworks
- SME financing and financial inclusion
- Infrastructure for a unified African digital economy
With participation from banks, fintechs, telcos, regulators, and global payment networks, Digital PayExpo 2026 is positioned as a critical marketplace for ideas, partnerships, and investment flows. Register: https://digitalpayexpo.com/register
Sponsorship Enquiries: [email protected]
News
Only 1 in 3 Families Fully Secure their Devices, Kaspersky Study Reveals

On International Day of Families observed on May 15th, a global Kaspersky study* reveals that while 47% of respondents talk about online safety, only 33% secure all their family devices – highlighting the need for proactivity from Family Digital Managers.

As online threats develop and every generation joins the online space, cybersecurity habits have become an essential part of life for every family. Typically, in every family, one or two people become so-called Family Digital Managers, responsible for managing subscriptions, setting up new devices, or thinking about cyber protection. Kaspersky has conducted a survey to find out what measures modern families take to stay safe online.
According to Kaspersky’s data, a significant portion of respondents adopt an educational approach to cybersecurity within their families:
47% regularly coach elderly relatives and children on safe online practices
45% advise family members to adopt password manager solutions
42% encourage the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA)
An equal 42% actively review and adjust privacy settings on both family devices and critical online accounts
Although a growing awareness of the importance of proactive, family-focused digital protection can be observed, when it comes to the implementation of security solutions, the trend is slightly different. 10% of respondents take no measures at all to protect their loved ones online, rising to 21% among those aged 55+.
As for the parental control apps, 67% of families with children under 18 years use this tool to monitor and secure their kids’ online activity. Parental control, such as the Kaspersky Safe Kids solution, can help restrict children’s access to inappropriate content and also gently manage their online habits by limiting access to certain websites and apps, controlling their screen time, and even enhancing their physical security by tracking their geolocation.
The most worrying number is that only 33% of respondents – just 1 in 3 – install security solutions on all family members’ devices. Kaspersky experts highlight that the current threat landscape shows that mobile devices and tablets as well as PCs all require comprehensive cyber protection, as they are often targeted by cybercriminals.
According to the survey, only 30% of respondents set up new devices for their families. Setting up a new device is not often regarded as a step that contributes to cyber safety; however, some actions performed before the device is put into use can significantly enhance its security.
For instance, experts recommend installing a security solution first, to scan the device for hidden threats and make web browsing safe from the first queries. What’s more, reviewing privacy settings on a new device allows you not to share data that you would like to keep private with some applications and services.
The research also shows that the older generation (55+) is generally less included in family security habits. Around 1 in 5 (21%) of this age group globally do not take any measures to protect their family online and only a quarter (24%) install security solutions for family members. The most popular security measure among them turns out to be a password manager, as 40% of this age group recommend their family members to use it.
“We are now using a lot of gadgets and digital services, and with every new device and every additional hour spent online, the potential entry points for cybercriminals continue to grow, exposing us to a wider range of cyber threats. At the same time, not every generation adapts to these rapid changes with the same ease.
“That’s why having someone in the family take on the role of a ‘Family Digital Manager’ can be so valuable, especially when it comes to protecting kids and elder people from digital cyberthreats, give advice and help with the use of trusted security solutions,” comments Brandon Muller, Technical Expert at Kaspersky.
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