General
Leading Trends Impacting the Nigerian e-Commerce Industry This 2023
Digital commerce is becoming the fastest-growing commerce in the Nigerian market, as immense growth has been recorded in this sector in recent years. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of technology and the rise of online payment platforms in Nigeria.
According to statista.com, the e-commerce sector of the Nigerian economy is expected to peak at $9.02bn in 2023 with an annual growth rate of 11.74 per cent, resulting in a projected market volume of $14.06bn by 2027.
Although the Nigerian e-commerce industry faces several challenges, including poor infrastructure, payment infrastructure, a general lack of trust in online transactions, and non-reliable logistics and delivery networks, these challenges have in no way hindered the growth experienced in the industry.
In a recent chat with Yuliy Shenfeld, Director of African Operations Jiji Africa, while discussing the significance of this Industry in the growth of the Nigerian market, he said
“E-commerce has the potential to play a significant role in the development of the Nigerian market by offering increased accessibility for Business owners and Job creation in areas such as software development, marketing, logistics, and customer service. It is a major growth driver that would improve the competitiveness of the Nigerian market on the global stage.”
The following trends are expected to shape the Nigerian e-commerce sector this 2023:
Increased Adoption of Mobile Technology:
More Nigerians are using their devices to make online purchases with the rise of smartphones and other mobile devices. According to the National Communication Commission (NCC), 89% of internet users make purchases online, with another 24% planning to do so in the near future.
Growing Interest in Online Payments:
Trust in online payment platforms is growing in Nigeria, making it easier for consumers to make purchases online. This trend has continued this 2023, as more consumers are becoming comfortable with digital transactions and online payment options.
Emergence of Social Media Commerce:
Weetracker.com reports that the global social commerce market is set to reach a whopping $604.5 billion by 2027, with social media attracting high engagement levels from a wide audience. Hence, Social media platforms will continue to provide a convenient way for consumers to discover and purchase products.
Focus on Customer Experience:
E-commerce companies are placing greater emphasis on providing seamless and personalised customer experience, from browsing to delivery and beyond. This 2023, e-commerce companies have continued this trend as they strive to differentiate themselves from their competitors and build customer loyalty.
Peer-to-Peer Commerce:
This is fast becoming a thing in the Nigerian e-commerce space, where buyers are able to easily connect directly with sellers to transact. A typical example is the Jiji platform, where people are able to convert unwanted or used items to cash by selling them directly to buyers. One huge benefit of this is that customers are able to easily raise funds to finance their projects, businesses, education, or even japa expenses.
The Nigerian e-commerce industry is poised for continued growth this year, even as these trends continue to shape the industry and play an increasingly important role in the growth of the Nigerian market. We would be excited to crunch the numbers when these play out.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has launched a mobile application designed to monitor fuel consumption patterns in real time across retail outlets nationwide.
The NMDPRA, established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, is responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations. The deployment of the mobile application aligns with the authority’s broader efforts to leverage technology to improve regulatory compliance and strengthen accountability.
The pilot phase of the project began on August 1 in Abuja and its six Area Councils, the authority said in a statement published on X.
As part of the rollout, the Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, led a team alongside officials from the Abuja Regional Office to assess the readiness and operational performance of the digital platform at participating retail outlets.
According to the NMDPRA, the application captures inventory and compliance data in real time, enabling regulators to monitor fuel distribution more effectively while improving operational efficiency across the sector.
The authority said the platform would generate reliable, data-driven insights to support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen national energy security planning and enhance transparency in the downstream petroleum industry.
It added that the initiative is expected to provide significant value to government, investors, operators and other stakeholders by improving access to accurate fuel consumption and compliance data.
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector has undergone significant changes since the deregulation of the petrol market and the removal of fuel subsidies, with regulators placing greater emphasis on data-driven supervision to ensure product availability, prevent supply disruptions and discourage sharp regional disparities in distribution.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
No doubt, moving money among African markets remains a slow, fragmented process that relies on multiple intermediaries and prolonged settlement cycles.
To solve this issue and drive the development of stablecoin-enabled payment services for businesses across the continent, Onafriq has joined forces with a leading stablecoin infrastructure provider, Privy.
The collaboration will enable Onafriq to create and manage embedded digital asset solutions for its partners and, in time, institutional clients where regulation allows. The initial phase focuses on cross-chain stablecoin transfers and treasury and settlement workflows, creating the foundation for future cross-border payment and liquidity solutions.
Integrating Privy’s secure infrastructure enables Onafriq to build the capabilities required to support a new generation of efficient digital payment services for banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators.
This partnership is a key component of Onafriq’s broader strategy to modernise pan-African payment infrastructure, enabling secure multi-modal wallets and more efficient movement of value across the continent.
The outcome will support a range of future institutional use cases, including stablecoin-enabled settlement, treasury management and liquidity services, as it reflects Onafriq’s commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation agenda by investing in technologies that make financial services more efficient, connected and accessible.
It was gathered that Onafriq selected Privy for its enterprise-grade infrastructure to enable the seamless integration of digital asset wallet capabilities into its products, subject to regulatory approval, and deliver a simple user experience while abstracting the complexity of blockchain technology.
“At Onafriq, we keep investing in technology that makes payments faster and more accessible. Privy gives us a building block for faster settlement and better liquidity management. As demand for digital asset services grows, our goal is to ensure Africa’s payment ecosystem benefits securely and in line with regulatory frameworks,” the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq,” Mr Luke Kyohere, said.
The chief executive of Privy, Mr Henri Stern, said, “Stablecoins will play an increasingly important role in the future of global payments, but real-world adoption depends on infrastructure that is secure, scalable and simple to implement. Working with Onafriq allows us to help build that foundation across Africa and beyond.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Osun State Government has announced plans to institute legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following an alleged freezing of the state’s bank account, describing the action as unlawful and capable of disrupting governance.
The Governor of the state, Mr Ademola Adeleke, through the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Oluwole Jimi-Bada, made this disclosure on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Governor Adeleke has directed him to challenge the anti-graft agency’s decision at the Federal High Court.
It was widely reported that the anti-graft agency issued a “Post No Debit” directive to the management of First Bank, where the state’s accounts are domiciled, effectively restricting transactions.
He argued that while the commission has the authority to investigate financial records, it cannot freeze a state government’s accounts without first obtaining a court order.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. EFCC can investigate the accounts, but it can’t freeze the accounts without an order of court.
“This step will affect government running, but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” Mr Jimi-Bada said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police officers stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank’s staff.
Mr Ogungbile maintained that Governor Adeleke was not deploying state resources for his re-election campaign and urged the EFCC to consider the potential impact of its actions on public services and the welfare of residents.
Governor Adeleke had earlier raised concerns over an alleged plan by the EFCC to freeze all Osun State Government accounts, including those of senior government officials.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported move as unlawful and politically motivated.
He alleged that the planned freezing of the accounts was intended to cripple government operations ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Governor Adeleke further insisted that there was no legal justification for freezing the state’s accounts, arguing that the EFCC lacks the authority to take such action against a state government without due legal process.
The EFCC had not issued an official response to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
