Economy
How to Choose an Online Payment Solution as a Nigerian Business
The last decade has seen the profuse digitization of the African business ecosystem.
Digital adoption is even more aggressive in Nigeria as more customers prefer the convenience of transacting business from the comfort of their homes (and smart devices), paying online.
From shopping for clothing to groceries to even betting, very few savours the traditional rigours of queuing up at a physical store, knowing it could all be conducted online.
What does this mean for Nigerian businesses? You would be financially handicapped if you don’t jump on the cashless bandwagon and integrate online payment solutions into your services.
The next question you would want to ask is what parameters you should consider when selecting a payment gateway.
What are the most critical considerations when picking a payment gateway?
We are talking about money here, aren’t we?
If yes, there is no way we can overemphasize the need for diligence when selecting a payment gateway.
Don’t forget that your customer’s payment experience significantly determines if they would do business with you – or even come back after the first transaction.
Below are the core parameters your chosen payment gateway must possess.
Versatility
If the customer is king, then you must give your buyers all the royalty they deserve by integrating payment gateways that work with a broad spectrum of payment methods.
The contemporary Nigerian has debit cards, with the younger fraction fast adopting more digital wallets.
Choose a payment gateway that is minimally discriminatory and works with a vast number of payment methods Nigerian banks offer their customers.
Security
Some decades ago, hacking was more of an American and European malady. The average African internet user didn’t have to worry about his online security.
Much has changed now, as cyber vandals furiously cast their nets online for Nigerian victims. You don’t want to expose your customers to cyber vulnerabilities when they make payments on your website.
This is why you need a payment processor that prioritizes security. Today, the best payment gateways are decked with cutting-edge encryption to make life extremely miserable for hackers.
Formidable apparatus is now being set up in Nigeria, as seen in domestic cybersecurity compliance protocols. Ensure your chosen solution religiously adheres to guidelines prescribed by the office of the NSA.
Speed
It was back in the days of our elders that slow and steady won the race. In a 21st-century Nigerian business landscape, customers want it fast and furious – and rightly so.
Few things can be as appalling to your customers as their online payment taking too long to process on your website.
Choose a payment gateway that boasts top-notch transaction execution speed. And as further icing on the cake, it would help to choose a gateway that will not charge your customers an arm and leg in transaction fees.
No one enjoys paying alarming fees for buying things from you. They will likely not come again if it happens.
Mobile compatibility
You would be mistaken to underestimate the fanaticism of Nigerian youth with mobile devices. The frenetic rave about the latest iPhone phones should adequately educate you on how much your customers love smartphones.
The chances are high that the majority of your Nigerian customers transacting online payments on your website are doing so via their mobile devices.
Therefore, when choosing a payment gateway, choose one that is sufficiently optimized for mobile users.
The payment processor should be fast, fluid, and responsive when customers deploy it on their smartphones.
That said, we have proudly observed the permeation of the Nigerian online space with native fintech solutions. Indigenous payment solutions like Paystack, Flutterwave, and PayU are extensively streamlined to the unique characteristics of the Nigerian business environment.
More than being easy and cheap to install, these payment methods are scalable. This means you pay only for what you use and can ramp things up flexibly as you grow.
It is also interesting to note that the likes of Flutterwave work with more currencies aside from the naira. This opens you to prosecuting international transactions without breaking a sweat.
Not bad, is it?
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its stay in the south for the fourth consecutive session after it shed 1.18 per cent on Friday, March 13.
The unlisted securities market recorded a loss despite closing without a price decliner, and ending with two price gainers led by Geo Fluids Plc, which gained 1o Kobo to sell at N3.10 per share compared with the previous day’s N3.00 per share. Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc appreciated during the session by 2 Kobo to trade at 54 Kobo per unit versus Thursday’s closing price of 52 Kobo per unit.
When the market closed for the day, the market capitalisation lost N29.83 billion to close at N2.489 trillion compared with the N2.519 trillion it finished a day earlier, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) crashed by 49.84 points to 4,160.46 points from 4,210.31 points.
Market activity improved yesterday, as the volume of transactions rose 179.5 per cent to 10.4 million units from 3.7 million units, but the value of trades declined by 68.4 per cent to N29.9 million from N95.0 million, while the number of deals weakened by 11.5 per cent to 46 deals from 52 deals.
Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 38.4 million units worth N2.4 billion, Okitipupa Plc followed with 6.4 million units traded at N1.1 billion, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc transacted 6.3 million units for N584.3 million.
Resourcery Plc ended the trading session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.6 million, trailed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 130.8 million units valued at N504.5 million, and CSCS Plc with 38.4 million units worth N2.4 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira continued to claw back some gains against the Dollar in the different segments of the foreign exchange (FX) market, as its value was strengthened on Friday.
In the black market, it gained N10 against the United States Dollar yesterday to close at N1,400/$1 compared with the preceding day’s rate of N1,410/$1, and at the GTBank forex counter, it chalked up N6 to close at N1,385/$1, in contrast to the N1,391/$1 it was traded a day earlier.
Similarly, in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), it appreciated against the greenback during the session by N5.28 or 0.38 per cent to quote at N1,366.23/$1 versus Thursday’s closing price of N1,371.51/$1.
It also improved its value against the Pound Sterling in the official market on Friday by N21.81 to settle at N1,812.99/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,834.80/£1, and gained N13.86 against the Euro to sell at N1,568.03/€1 versus N1,581.89/€1.
Pressure eased further on the FX market as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continued interventionist operations this week, selling Dollars to banks to boost liquidity after a $500 million boost last week.
This was complemented by inflows from foreign investors, exporters and non-bank corporates, among others, while Nigeria’s gross external reserves remained above $50 billion, the highest since 2009.
The Governor of the apex bank, Mr Yemi Cardoso, also eased fears of a Naira devaluation, saying the country’s financial system has been strengthened by reforms.
Regardless, external pressure looms as the US Dollar strengthened globally due to its war with Iran, now ongoing for three weeks.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was largely down as traders and investors continue to align with current realities.
The market is adapting to the conflict in real time. Early in the war, every headline produced an outsized reaction because nobody could price the tail risk. Now, traders have a framework where strikes happen, oil spikes and bitcoin dips only to recover again.
Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 3.8 per cent to $0.2623, Dogecoin (DOGE) lost 1.7 per cent to finish at $0.0948, Ripple (XRP) slumped 1.5 per cent to $1.39, Solana (SOL) dropped 1.4 per cent to sell for $87.33, Binance Coin (BNB) went down by 1.3 per cent to $653.58, Bitcoin (BTC) declined by 1.1 per cent to $70,670.63, and Ethereum (ETH) decreased by 0.9 per cent to $2,078.78.
However, TRON (TRX) appreciated by 1.7 per cent to $0.2941, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 apiece.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The price of the major crude oil grade, Brent crude oil, closed above $100 on Friday for the second consecutive session, as the Iran war heads toward its third week, with oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz still effectively at a standstill.
It gained 2.67 per cent or $2.68 during the trading day to close at $103.14 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil grade appreciated by 3.11 per cent or $2.98 to settle at $98.71 per barrel.
Brent futures were up about 10 per cent for the week following the 27 per cent rise seen last week, which marked the biggest weekly gain in oil prices since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. WTI futures, which saw their best week since 1983 last week, ended the week more than 8 per cent higher.
US President Donald Trump said American forces launched a major bombing raid on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, targeting military facilities on the key Persian Gulf outpost while warning Iran that its vital oil infrastructure could be destroyed if shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
The terminal accounts for roughly 90 per cent of Iranian crude shipments, loading millions of barrels per day onto tankers bound largely for Asian markets.
The US and Israel’s strikes in the conflict have largely targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Oil facilities elsewhere in Iran have been hit, but Kharg’s massive storage tanks, jetties, and pipelines had remained untouched until the latest strike.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep fighting in a message delivered via state television.
There have been a number of attacks on foreign ships in or near the Strait, feeding into concerns that a prolonged war could translate to a global economic shock.
Prices are rising despite the US and its allies rolling out some measures to keep a lid on energy costs.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has agreed to release 400 million stockpiled barrels, the largest such action in history.
The US has issued a 30-day waiver for India to purchase sanctioned oil from Russia. President Donald Trump is considering loosening rules under the Jones Act that require American ships to transport goods between domestic ports, including oil and gas, in an effort to lower costs.
Traders are continuing to monitor developments in the Middle East.
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