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Before You Fall Into Recharge Card Business Scam, Read This

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By Dipo Olowookere

I have read several times about some Nigerians lamenting being scammed by fraudsters who claim they can go into recharge business by selling in bulk with as low as N10,000.

Each time I read or hear about victims crying about being scammed, I say to myself that they fell for it because they were ignorant and failed to do at least a bit of research before parting away with their hard-earned money.

The purpose of this article is to educate you on some basics of the recharge card business so that no one can fool you next time about it.

It is important I state that recharge card business is capital intensive, especially if you want to make huge profit.

First, none of the GSM network provider sells recharge cards in bulk directly to individuals or small scale sellers. They sell their recharge card pins directly to dealers, who have registered with them and must have millions of Naira to invest into the business.

In some cases, if not most, banks stand in as guarantor for these dealers because dealers are given targets to meet each month. Some networks, like MTN, give their dealers N1 billion turnover per month.

Now, when dealers buy these recharge card pins, which are then printed in cards and papers, they sell to those called the sub-dealers. Dealers also sell the recharge card pins to sub-dealers as Virtual Top Up (VTU).

In some cases, some of these sub-dealers buy recharge cards worth N10-50 million daily from dealers to resell to those who hawk the cards to retailers (those who sell the product under umbrellas by the roadsides, shops and others).

Recharge Card Prices

The prices of recharge cards are influenced by demand and supply. When there is a huge demand for a network’s recharge card, the price goes up because it is scarce in the market. However, when there is less demand for it, the price drops.

In most cases, the prices of recharge cards go up at the beginning of the month and drops at the end of the month. This is because at the end of the month, most dealers are after meeting their targets and would sell at a lower rate in order to get the commission network providers give to dealers who meet their targets.

But MTN, which is the market leader, has somehow stabilised its price at the market unlike in the past.

From my investigation, MTN sells its N100 recharge card to dealers at N96 and it expects them to sell to sub-dealers and retailers at N96.50k. It came up with this policy so as to stop the sale of its cards above the face value like it happened in the past where the N100 voucher was sold for N110.

For Airtel, the price ranges from N94.50k to N95.50k, depending on who is selling it and the volume being purchased.

For Etisalat, the price ranges from N94 to N95, while Glo goes for N90 to N92.

In recharge card business, the prices of other card denominations are calculated using the price of the N100 cards.

If anyone approaches you to say he can get you recharge cards of any network at rates about N3-5 below the above prices, you should raise a red flag.

Also, if anyone says you can start printing recharge cards as low as N10,000, you should raise an eyebrow because no network sells their recharge card pins to sub-dealers or retailers, but dealers alone, who are like partners in the business with them. In fact, the network providers call their dealers Trade Partners.

If you require further information or clarification, please feel free to use the comment box.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via dipo.olowookere@businesspost.ng

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Economy

World Bank Projects 22.1% Inflation for Nigeria in 2025

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inflation rate

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria’s inflation rate is projected to average 22.1 per cent in 2025, according to the World Bank.

The global lender disclosed this in a statement published Monday on its website, following the formal launch of the latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report in Abuja.

It noted that this is as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) tight monetary stance begins to anchor inflation expectations and restore confidence in macroeconomic management.

The biannual report, titled Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth, assesses recent economic trends and policy responses in Nigeria, with a focus on how to consolidate stability and stimulate inclusive growth.

According to the World Bank, while Nigeria’s economic indicators are showing signs of improvement, particularly growth, revenue, and fiscal balance, price pressures remain elevated.

“The report further adds that Inflation has remained high and sticky but is expected to fall to an annual average of 22.1% in 2025, as a sustained tight stance firmly establishes monetary policy credibility and dampens inflationary expectations,” the statement read.

Nigeria’s inflation has been driven by the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, high logistics and energy costs, and food supply disruptions.

However, the report noted that recent monetary tightening by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is beginning to slow inflation momentum.

Recall that Nigeria earlier this year rebased its Consumer Price Index (CPI) updating the base year to 2024 from 2009. As a result the inflation dropped to 24.48 per cent in January 2025 from December 34.80 per cent.

In February, the rate slowed to 23.18 per cent and then increased to 24.23 per cent in March 2025.

The NDU also noted that Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.6 per cent year-on-year in Q4 2024, pushing full-year growth to 3.4 per cent, the strongest non-COVID performance since 2014.

The country’s fiscal deficit narrowed significantly from 5.4 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 3.0 per cent in 2024, supported by a surge in consolidated government revenues from N16.8 trillion (7.2 per cent of GDP) in 2023 to an estimated N31.9 trillion (11.5 per cent of GDP) in 2024.

The World Bank said the improving macroeconomic outlook now presents Nigeria with a “historic opportunity” to reposition public spending and deliver meaningful development outcomes.

“Nigeria has made impressive strides to restore macroeconomic stability. With the improvement in the fiscal situation, Nigeria now has a historic opportunity to improve the quantity and quality of development spending; investing more in human capital, social protection, and infrastructure,” said Mr Taimur Samad, Acting World Bank Country Director for Nigeria.

He added that public resource allocation must shift away from previous unsustainable patterns and instead address the country’s significant development gaps.

The NDU recommended a private sector-led growth strategy that focuses on improving infrastructure, increasing access to finance, enhancing competition, and undertaking reforms in productive sectors to support job creation and inclusive development.

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Economy

How Colocation Provider Services Enhance the Crypto Mining Process

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colocation Bitcoin

When it comes to scaling up Bitcoin operations, every miner hits a wall sooner or later. Whether it’s rising energy bills, cooling issues, or limited rack space, home setups just don’t cut it at scale. That’s where colocation Bitcoin solutions step in, offering industrial-grade infrastructure without the headache of building a data center from scratch. For many crypto miners, this has become a game-changer.

Cryptocurrency Mining Explained

At its core, cryptocurrency mining is the process of validating transactions and adding them to the blockchain ledger. Miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles using powerful hardware, like ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). Once a solution is found, it’s broadcast across the network, and the miner gets rewarded in crypto.

But this isn’t something you can pull off with a basic laptop. Running a profitable mining operation demands serious horsepower and reliable uptime, especially when you’re dealing with blockchain technology and its nonstop, decentralized nature.

How Colocation Facilities are Used in Crypto Mining

Colocation facilities are specialized data centers where miners can house their mining rigs. Instead of hosting hardware in a garage or warehouse, miners rent space in these facilities that already offer high-end cooling, power redundancy, and lightning-fast connectivity. This is ideal for running blockchain workload management tasks that require stable environments.

More importantly, colocation sites are often located in regions with access to cheaper electricity, significantly lowering the energy consumption in mining, a major factor for profitability. And for those managing Bitcoin nodes, colocation facilities provide the uptime and security needed to ensure uninterrupted participation in the network.

Colocation Benefits for Miners – Why are They Becoming Popular?

The list of colocation benefits for miners keeps growing. One of the biggest is reduced overhead. There’s no need to worry about cooling systems, fire suppression, or backup generators — the colocation provider services take care of it all. This lets miners focus purely on maximizing hash rates and ROI.

Then there’s mining hardware management. These facilities often have on-site technicians who can perform reboots, monitor temps, or even swap out malfunctioning units. This kind of hands-on support is critical when running dozens (or hundreds) of rigs.

We also can’t overlook data center security. Physical and cyber security in colocation centers is top-notch, from biometric access controls to round-the-clock surveillance. For anyone holding significant mining assets, that peace of mind is worth its weight in Bitcoin.

In the fast-moving world of crypto, infrastructure can make or break your mining game. Colocation isn’t just for enterprise giants anymore — it’s becoming the go-to solution for solo miners and small firms looking to scale without blowing their budget. With better uptime, lower costs, expert support, and hardened security, colocation facilities are proving essential in today’s mining landscape.

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Economy

NIPOST, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Seal Logistics Deal

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NIPOST

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) and the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have signed a direct international mail partnership to boost delivery and ease bottlenecks around Nigerian logistics.

The Postmaster General of NIPOST, Mrs Tola Odeyemi, confirmed this agreement between both parties, describing its as a milestone in many years.

According to Mrs Odeyemi, NIPOST operated without any direct partnerships with international airlines, relying heavily on multiple third-party handlers, resulting in delays, higher costs, and uncertainty around the delivery of packages.

“With this new partnership, KLM will now handle our outbound international mail directly, with no middlemen involved,” she wrote in the announcement on X, formerly, known as Twitter, noting that the deal will bring faster and more reliable delivery, reduced risk of loss or damage, lower handling charges, and access to over 200 countries through KLM’s global network.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the national carrier of the Netherlands and offers services – passenger and cargoes – to 164 destinations worldwide and boasts about 116 aircrafts as of 2025.

“This breakthrough is possible because we have begun clearing longstanding debts owed to international carriers. We are actively working to rebuild global trust, and this partnership is only the first of many doors that will reopen,” she added.

She also noted that NIPOST is currently in strategic discussions with Ethiopian Airlines to serve African and Eastern routes, further strengthening the country’s regional and continental logistics framework.

“Our goal is clear and unwavering: to connect Nigeria regionally and globally, efficiently, securely, and affordably,” she noted.

The NIPOST chief also noted that the development serves as a major win for Nigerian businesses especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

According to her, some of the benefits cover those who export goods, or sell products online, as it introduces quicker, more affordable international shipping, greater peace of mind with improved reliability, and new potential to reach and grow in global markets.

“I remain grateful to the incredible teams working diligently behind the scenes, and to every Nigerian who continues to believe in our mission. We are not just delivering mail, we are delivering solutions and moving Nigeria forward,” she added.

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