The Federal Government has announced a new initiative aimed at removing technical barriers and glitches in Nigeria’s digital payment and e-commerce platforms.
The move is part of a broader strategy to ensure seamless electronic transactions and enhance financial inclusion across the country.
The effort is being spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in collaboration with development partners. The goal is to enable Nigerians to transfer money and conduct business easily using mobile phones and other digital devices.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ roundtable meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday. He reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to driving financial inclusion through improved digital infrastructure.
Hadejia emphasised that the government is focused on creating payment systems that serve the “last mile” and include financially excluded Nigerians. He noted that very few countries offer the kind of ease of payment available in Nigeria, but acknowledged that challenges remain.
“It doesn’t happen anywhere in the world, and by the time we begin to address these issues, we can use that reach to enter into the e-commerce stage. From our own perspective, we are also worried about the exclusion that is inherent so that eligible Nigerians, no matter where they are, can have access to quality, simple financial services that are beyond educational and poverty levels,” Hadejia stated.
He identified digital payment and identity verification as the final obstacles to unlocking Nigeria’s e-commerce potential. “Yes, there is e-commerce going on, but I think the biggest impediments surround the ease of payment, the identity issue and several things we are pushing, which are all interlinked,” he added.
The roundtable also featured contributions from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and international development partners including ODI Global, which is supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) digital trade protocol.
The government expects that resolving these digital payment challenges will not only boost local e-commerce but also strengthen Nigeria’s participation in regional and global trade ecosystems.
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