Bonjour,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- MTN bets big on AI with $240M Nigeria data centre
- Microsoft shuts down $100K Nigerian phishing ring
- FCCPC recovers ₦10B for angry customers
MTN bets big on AI with $240M Nigeria data centre
MTN Group is gearing up for a big play in artificial intelligence, moving beyond its traditional telecoms roots. The company is in talks with US and European partners to co-build data centres across Africa, per Bloomberg.
CEO Ralph Mupita confirmed MTN is already in commercial negotiations and hopes to close deals before the year ends. The group has reportedly committed $240 million to its first AI-focused data centre in Nigeria, under a new business unit called Genova.
Genova will deliver AI computing power directly to businesses and governments, while also leasing infrastructure to global cloud giants like Microsoft and Google. MTN is even considering putting in its own hardware to deepen its play in the sector.
The shift is part of MTN’s broader strategy to monetise its infrastructure and reposition itself as more than a mobile operator. Alongside its connected home plans via fibre and 5G broadband, AI data centres aim to capture enterprise and government demand while creating new revenue opportunities.
The race for data centre dominance is heating up. Airtel Nigeria, in August, announced plans to build the country’s largest hyperscale facility in Lagos, with a focus on AI. Also, it has an IT load of 38MW, more than eight times MTN’s current capacity at its newly launched $235 million Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre.
That facility, unveiled in July, was touted as West Africa’s biggest Tier III site, boasting 780 racks and 96 modular containers. But Airtel’s upcoming Eko Atlantic project is designed to go head-to-head not just with MTN, but with global giants like AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
Microsoft shuts down $100K Nigerian phishing ring
Microsoft has cracked down on a cybercrime ring in Nigeria that made over $100,000 by renting out fake Microsoft 365 login pages to scammers across the world.
The group, known as RaccoonO365, was running what’s called “phishing-as-a-service,” basically providing ready-made phishing kits to fraudsters who didn’t have the skills to build them. Since July 2024, they have been helping criminals mimic Microsoft emails and login portals to trick people into handing over their passwords.
In a joint operation with cybersecurity firm Cloudflare, Microsoft seized 338 websites linked to RaccoonO365. These sites were near-perfect clones of Microsoft login pages and were spread through malicious emails, QR codes, and attachments.
The phishing network managed to steal more than 5,000 login credentials from victims in 94 countries. Stolen details were either sold on the dark web or used in scams like business email compromise (BEC), which has been especially rampant in West Africa.
Investigators found the platform was advertised on an invite-only Telegram channel with about 850 members and had between 100 and 200 paying subscribers. For a fee, these fraudsters could select targets, send phishing links, and track login attempts; no real technical expertise required.
While Microsoft says its Digital Crimes Unit has disrupted the operation, cybersecurity experts warn this may only be a temporary win. With phishing attacks already surging across Africa, the takedown highlights the urgent need for stronger cyber awareness, especially for SMEs and startups that rely heavily on cloud tools like Microsoft 365.
FCCPC recovers ₦10B for angry customers
If you’ve ever been frustrated by your bank or fintech app, you’re not alone. Nigeria’s consumer watchdog, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), says banking and fintech firms are topping the charts when it comes to customer complaints.
Between March and August this year, the Commission recovered more than $7 million (about ₦10 billion) for unhappy customers. Out of 30 sectors tracked, banking had the highest number of complaints, with 3,173 cases. Fast-moving consumer goods came second with 1,543, while fintech followed closely at 1,442. Electricity, e-commerce, and telecoms also featured prominently.
In total, 9,091 cases were resolved in just six months. Issues ranged from unfair charges and unauthorised deductions to failed transactions, deceptive marketing, and poor redress timelines. The Commission says these numbers underline how much financial pain consumers carry when businesses fail to act responsibly.
Banking and fintech disputes, especially around loan deductions and unfair fees, had the biggest financial hit. Electricity sector complaints were mostly about inflated bills and unreliable service, while eCommerce complaints exposed headaches with refunds, deliveries, and counterfeit goods.
The FCCPC also flagged a surge in digital lending and microfinance disputes, which ties into its recent crackdown on predatory loan apps. The agency says it will step up surveillance and work more closely with regulators in high-risk sectors like financial services and utilities.
Tunji Bello, FCCPC’s CEO, put it bluntly: “These numbers are not just statistics; they tell the story of consumer frustration.” He added that the agency is determined to hold businesses accountable and keep pushing for fair market practices that protect Nigerians.
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Opportunities
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is hiring a Sales Associate. Apply here.
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- FairMoney is looking for a Head of Business Banking Product. Apply here.
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- The Institute of African and Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos is looking for a Junior Research Fellow. Apply here.
- MTN Nigeria is hiring an Operational Risk Specialist. Apply here.
- Co-Creation HUB (CcHUB) Nigeria is looking for a Head of Communications. Apply here.
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Have a superb Thursday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
