Nǐ hǎo,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- Nigeria protests escalate: Kano Digital Centre looted
- WhatsApp could leave Nigeria
- Flutterwave secures PSP licence in Ghana
Nigeria protests escalate: Kano Digital Centre looted
Did you know that over 700 major antigovernment protests have erupted globally? Over 147 countries have seen significant protests, with 18% lasting over three months. Since 2017, there have been 258 notable economic antigovernment protests.
Just like in Kenya with the protests over the Financial Bill 2024 back in March, people in Ghana and Nigeria are now taking to the streets, demanding better living conditions and an end to bad governance.
In Nigeria, protests are hitting all six geopolitical zones because of widespread hardship, but things have spiralled with looting and vandalism. The new Digital Innovation Centre in Kano, which was meant to boost Nigeria's tech scene, was recently targeted and destroyed.
Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, has condemned the attack, stressing how crucial the centre was for developing tech talent in the country.
Per reports, the mob not only set fire to the Nigerian Communications Commission’s building but also raided the Digital Centre, taking furniture and equipment.
Tijani, who had planned to launch the centre next week as part of his ministry’s initiative to boost technical talent in Nigeria, described the destruction as a major setback, costing millions and delaying efforts to develop the country’s tech workforce.
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While many protests have been peaceful, violence has broken out in some areas, such as Abuja, where police used tear gas, prompting further unrest. The situation in the northern parts of the country remains tense, with three people reported dead in Kaduna.
WhatsApp could leave Nigeria
We are still on the WhatsApp-FCCPC $220M fine matter, and it’s not even looking good.
What’s the latest? WhatsApp might be pulling out of Nigeria due to a $220 million fine and tough new orders from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
This means WhatsApp' is considering "withdrawing certain services" in Nigeria.
Why? A Meta spokesperson said following the FCCPC's orders would make it nearly impossible to run WhatsApp in Nigeria—or anywhere else.
They argue that the FCCPC's directive misrepresents how WhatsApp works and that it's impossible to offer the service without Meta’s infrastructure. They're urgently appealing the order to prevent any user impact.
What could this mean for users? With over 50 million users in Nigeria, including many small businesses, WhatsApp is crucial for communication and commerce. A suspension could seriously disrupt business activities.
But? The real question is, will Meta really risk losing this market share, especially when they’re clearly at fault?
How it all started: In July 2024, the FCCPC fined Meta a staggering $220 million (over ₦300 billion), accusing them of mishandling Nigerian users' data and forcing unfair privacy policies.
The FCCPC ordered WhatsApp to stop sharing data with Meta’s other companies and third parties without explicit consent, and to improve transparency and user control over data collection.
Meta disputes this ruling, claiming it's unjust, procedurally flawed, and impossible to revert to its 2016 data-sharing policy. They argue that the directive is vague and has led to confusion about data transfer to Facebook.
Flutterwave secures PSP licence in Ghana
Flutterwave just scored big with a new Enhanced Category Payment Service Provider licence from the Bank of Ghana.
This means they can now run things independently in Ghana, making payments smoother for businesses and customers.
With this licence, Flutterwave can offer cool stuff like automated invoicing, payment links, and support for various payment methods, including cards and mobile money.
They're pumped about Ghana’s digital payment scene, which is expected to hit $7 billion by 2024 and almost $13 billion by 2028.
Flutterwave’s CEO, Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, sees this as a major win for their mission to streamline Africa’s payment systems. He’s also committed to driving economic growth and delivering top-notch service in Ghana and beyond.
This follows their recent moves, like getting preliminary approval for a payment aggregator license in Mozambique and teaming up with Nigeria's EFCC to tackle cybercrime. They’ve also trimmed some staff to sharpen their focus on remittances and enterprise services.
In case you missed it
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What I'm watching
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Opportunities
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Have a fun weekend!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
