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Agents, PTML Disagree Over N10,000 Access Card Scheme
Freight forwarding agents operating at the Ports & Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML) operated by multinational logistic group, Grimaldi Shipping Line, has accused the terminal operator of extorting N10,000 from agents wishing to gain access into the facility for business purposes.
This is even as the terminal operator has labelled such accusations untrue, claiming the N10,000 fee was imposed to regularise entry into the port facility.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune exclusively, a cross section of the agents from the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA); National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders (AREFFN), explained that in recent time, agents wishing to enter the Grimaldi/PTML Terminal now pay N10,000 to obtain Access Cards before such an agent will be allowed to enter into the terminal.
According to them, “Grimaldi/PTML has devised what they call Access Cards. This Access Cards, which is obtained after payment of N10,000, guarantees entry into the terminal. Without the Access Card, no agent can go into the terminal to conduct business transactions.
“This is extortion. Why has the terminal operator come up with this when the economy is in recession? The facility was given to them on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), why are they subjecting Nigerians to pay before they can enter the facility?
“This is a facility where business transactions take place. If we don’t have a consignment to clear, we won’t seek to go in there. Anytime we have consignments to clear, we pay all statutory dues to the Customs and the terminal operator. This new fee is another way of extorting Nigerians in their own country.”
When contacted, the Managing Director of Grimaldi/PTML, Mr Ascanio Russo, stated that the N10, 000 Access Card scheme was introduced to regularise entry into the terminal.
“The Access Card scheme is part of the new regularisation process at the Grimaldi/PTML facility. And it is not that we are imposing N10,000 on agents wishing to gain entry into the facility, the amount is just the cost of the card.
“The Access Cards are smart card, so the N10,000 is just the amount for the cost of the card, not an extortion agenda as claimed by some agents.
“The scheme was introduced to ensure we know the addresses of the companies the agents who come into our terminals work with. We need to know the owners of these companies and it is in the interest of everybody that we have started this initiative.
“The idea is to verify the identity of who comes into our facility. We needed to bring this up due to our environment which has become very prone to scam and fraudulent abuse.
“So we need to ensure reputable people come into our facility to transact business because we don’t want to be seen dealing with fraudulent people.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To make finding the right service provider or reaching the right customer seamless, popular local information portal, Connect Nigeria, has introduced a Quote Request platform.
Connect Nigeria described the new system as “a digital solution designed to make connecting with service providers faster, easier, and more reliable.”
It said the Quote Request was built for consumers who need services quickly and want trusted options without the stress of searching endlessly; and service providers and businesses looking for real, high-intent customers without spending heavily on marketing.
“Whether you need a caterer for an event, a plumber for your home, or a designer for your brand, the platform is designed to connect you with the right people,” Connect Nigeria added.
“By connecting demand directly with supply, the platform creates a more structured and dependable marketplace,” it further stated.
At its core, the Quote Request simplifies the entire process of finding and offering services.
To use the service, users have to submit a request describing the service or product needed, which is then sent to verified vendors on the platform. Interested providers respond within 1–2 days, and users compare offers and choose what works best for their needs and budget.
“Instead of searching for vendors, the vendors come to you, with relevant, tailored responses,” Connect Nigeria explained.
The company expects this new platform to eliminate the stress of endless online searches, delayed or vague responses, and uncertainty about service quality.
As for businesses, it solves poor visibility, inconsistent customer flow, and lost opportunities due to slow response times.
Connect Nigeria Quote Request mobile app is now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An institutional investor, First Ally Capital, has strengthened a leading Nigerian financial technology company, Mathesis Analytics, to scale its proprietary credit decisioning infrastructure.
It made this possible by injecting fresh capital into the firm, which specialises in AI-powered credit decisioning infrastructure, an action that will directly support the growth and scaling of Mathesis’ core mission of providing the intelligence and infrastructure needed to bridge the credit gap for millions of unscored or underscored individuals across Nigeria.
With this investment, Mathesis will enable financial institutions to confidently assess and extend credit to borrowers who lack a formal credit history by leveraging an expanded pool of alternative behavioural and transactional data.
To date, Mathesis’ systems have supported more than 8 million loans for over 2 million unique borrowers in Nigeria, and the company is actively deploying its infrastructure to establish a growing pan-African footprint.
With the investment from First Ally Capital, Mathesis is well positioned to transform how the credit ecosystem operates, driving financial inclusion in partnership with lenders across the continent.
A significant barrier to credit access in Nigeria, which prides itself on being Africa’s largest economy, is data fragmentation. Borrowers frequently build positive financial behaviours across multiple digital platforms by repaying microfinance loans, saving through fintech wallets, or servicing Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) facilities.
However, under traditional credit infrastructure, these achievements remain invisible to new lenders.
Mathesis addresses this challenge through the concept of Personal Equity—the quantified expression of an individual’s financial behaviour aggregated across every institution with which they have transacted.
By translating these disparate signals into a precise, portable measure of creditworthiness, Mathesis creates a comprehensive credit identity that reflects the full breadth of a person’s financial life.
“True financial inclusion cannot be achieved in a vacuum; it requires structural collaboration in which lenders and fintech companies work as partners within the ecosystem.
“This investment from First Ally Capital validates our approach to reshaping credit infrastructure. By quantifying Personal Equity, we empower lenders to safely look beyond the constraints of formal credit histories and recognise a borrower’s true creditworthiness. This capital enables us to accelerate our pan-African expansion while maintaining the robust, institutional-grade infrastructure our partners rely on,” the chief executive of Mathesis Analytics, Winston Osuchukwu, stated.
On his part, the chief executive of First Ally Capital, Mr Ebenezer Olufowose, said, “At First Ally Capital, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop destination for financial solutions, offering a diverse portfolio of services ranging from investment banking and asset management to trusteeship, inclusive banking, and real estate.
“Our investment in Mathesis Analytics reflects our strong belief in the company’s vision and our commitment to supporting forward-thinking enterprises that deliver excellence.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
