Mingala ba,
Victoria here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Nigeria opens probe into Meta, X, and AI firms
- Zeepay pushes back against $11.6M refund reports
- Kenya creates new licences for Uber, Bolt, and Glovo
- Angola is taking Unitel public after state takeover
Nigeria opens probe into Meta, X, and AI firms
Nigeria’s government is turning up the heat on some of the world’s biggest technology companies. The Federal Government has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate X, Meta, Alphabet, and several generative AI companies over allegations that their business practices are hurting Nigeria’s media industry. The probe follows a joint petition by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which represents newspaper publishers, broadcasters, journalists, and online publishers. The media groups argue that global tech platforms are using their market power to undermine local news organisations and content creators.
At the centre of the investigation are claims that some of these companies scrape copyrighted news content to train AI models without permission or compensation, dominate digital advertising markets, and fail to establish fair commercial agreements with Nigerian publishers. The FCCPC says it will also examine whether any of the companies have abused their market position in violation of Nigeria’s competition laws. The commission has stressed, however, that opening an investigation does not mean the companies have been found guilty, and all parties will have the opportunity to respond before any conclusions are reached.
The development reflects a much broader global debate over the relationship between Big Tech and the news industry. Over the past few years, publishers in countries such as Australia and Canada, and members of the European Union, have pushed platforms, including Meta and Google, to pay for news content, arguing that technology companies generate significant advertising revenue from journalism without adequately compensating the organisations that produce it. The rapid rise of generative AI has intensified those concerns, with publishers increasingly questioning whether AI companies should be allowed to train their models using copyrighted articles without licensing agreements.
The latest probe also builds on Nigeria’s increasingly assertive approach to regulating global technology firms. In July 2024, the FCCPC imposed a $220 million administrative penalty on Meta over alleged violations of consumer protection and data privacy rules following a joint investigation with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. Meta has appealed that decision, and the matter remains before the courts. This new investigation broadens the regulatory spotlight beyond privacy to include competition, copyright and the commercial relationship between technology platforms and the country’s media ecosystem.
For Nigeria’s publishers, the investigation could become a defining moment in their relationship with global technology companies. If regulators find evidence of anti-competitive conduct, the outcome could influence how digital platforms negotiate with local media organisations and how AI companies source training data in one of Africa’s largest media markets. More broadly, the case signals that Nigeria is joining a growing list of countries seeking to redefine the balance between innovation, competition and fair compensation in the digital economy.
Ghana’s Zeepay pushes back against $11.6M refund reports
Ghanaian fintech Zeepay is pushing back against recent media reports about its legal dispute, insisting that the matter is far from over. In a public statement released last week, the cross-border payments company said the case is still before the Court of Appeal, meaning no final decision has been reached. It urged customers, partners and the public to ignore unverified reports that suggest otherwise, stressing that the case remains sub judice — under judicial consideration — and should be left for the courts to determine.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
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The clarification matters because Zeepay has grown into one of Africa’s biggest fintech players in cross-border remittances and mobile money. The company operates across more than 20 African markets, partnering with global money transfer operators and mobile money providers to move funds into digital wallets. Any uncertainty surrounding its legal standing has the potential to affect customer confidence, investor sentiment and relationships with financial institutions, making it important for the company to publicly address reports about the case.
The latest statement follows widespread reports that a High Court had ordered Zeepay to refund $11.6 million in a long-running dispute. However, the company says those reports fail to acknowledge that the matter has already been appealed and is awaiting determination by the Court of Appeal. Per Zeepay, any reporting that presents the High Court decision as the outcome does not accurately reflect the current legal position, adding that it will address any inaccuracies through the appropriate legal channels.
The legal dispute comes during a busy period for the fintech. In recent weeks, Zeepay has also faced regulatory scrutiny after the Bank of Ghana fined the company and temporarily suspended aspects of its foreign exchange licence over breaches of inward remittance guidelines. Although separate from the court case, the regulatory action has placed the company under increased public attention at a time when Ghana’s fintech sector is experiencing tighter oversight from regulators.
For now, Zeepay says it remains focused on serving customers while allowing the judicial process to run its course. The company maintains that its day-to-day operations remain unaffected and has reiterated its commitment to respecting the courts. The case is now one to watch, not only because of its potential financial implications for Zeepay, but also because it could influence how legal disputes involving some of Africa’s fastest-growing fintech companies are perceived while appeals are still pending.
Kenya creates new licences for Uber, Bolt, Glovo
Kenya has introduced a new licence designed specifically for app-based delivery platforms, marking one of the country’s biggest regulatory changes for the fast-growing logistics industry. Under the new framework announced by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), companies such as Uber, Bolt, Glovo, and Little will need a dedicated courier hailing service provider licence instead of operating under the same category as traditional courier firms. The new rules take effect on July 29, 2026, and also come with higher licensing fees for digital delivery platforms.
The move is about more than increasing licence fees. For the first time, Kenya is officially recognising app-based delivery services as a distinct part of the country’s courier industry rather than treating them like conventional parcel companies. That’s a significant shift because these platforms have evolved far beyond food delivery. Today, they move groceries, medicines, retail purchases and parcels while connecting customers, merchants, and independent riders through digital marketplaces. The new licence reflects how eCommerce and last-mile delivery have become an essential part of Kenya’s digital economy.
The change has been building for some time. Over the past few years, companies like Glovo have expanded partnerships with supermarkets and restaurants, while Bolt has broadened its delivery business beyond ride-hailing. In June 2026, Uber also applied for a courier operator licence as it sought to expand into Kenya’s parcel delivery market, highlighting how major mobility platforms increasingly see logistics as a key source of future growth. At the same time, online shopping and on-demand services have fuelled demand for faster and more reliable delivery networks across the country.
The new licence will apply to platforms that use apps to coordinate deliveries, whether they operate their own fleets or work with independent riders and drivers. Companies will pay a KSh 5,000 application fee, an initial licence fee of KSh 100,000, an annual operating fee of KSh 100,000 or 0.4% of annual gross turnover (whichever is higher), plus a 0.5% Universal Service Levy based on annual turnover. Existing operators licensed as National Courier Operators will automatically migrate to the new category once the framework comes into force.
For consumers, very little will change immediately. They’ll still order food, groceries, and parcels through the same apps. For the industry, however, the implications are much bigger. By creating a dedicated regulatory framework for digital logistics platforms, Kenya is laying the groundwork for future policies around platform accountability, consumer protection, data reporting and service standards. As eCommerce continues to expand across Africa, Kenya’s approach could become a model for how other countries regulate the growing intersection of technology, logistics and last-mile delivery.
Angola is taking Unitel public after state takeover
Angola has officially kicked off the initial public offering (IPO) of Unitel, the country’s largest telecom operator, marking a major milestone in its privatisation programme. The government is selling a 15% stake in the company through the Bolsa de Dívida e Valores de Angola (BODIVA), with the share sale running from July 6 to July 24. Trading is expected to begin around July 29, while the final results of the offer are due on July 27. The IPO includes 7.5 million ordinary shares, with one million shares reserved for Unitel employees.
The IPO is about much more than raising money. Unitel serves more than 21 million subscribers and dominates Angola’s telecom market, while also holding a majority stake in Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA), one of the country’s largest banks. A successful listing could deepen Angola’s capital markets, attract both local and foreign investors, and encourage other state-owned businesses to follow the same path. It also signals that Angola is continuing its push to reduce state ownership of major companies through its ProPriv privatisation programme.
The company’s journey to this point has been anything but ordinary. Unitel was once the crown jewel of the business empire of Isabel dos Santos, who owned a 25% stake through her investment vehicle, Vidatel. But after President João Lourenço launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign following his election in 2017, the government seized her shares in 2022, making Unitel fully state-owned. Dos Santos has consistently denied wrongdoing, describing the legal actions against her as politically motivated.
The IPO also reflects Angola’s broader effort to diversify an economy that has long depended on oil revenues. Since BODIVA hosted its first IPO in 2022, the government has been trying to build a stronger domestic capital market that gives businesses an alternative source of funding. Unitel’s listing was originally expected earlier but was delayed until 2026, making this flotation one of the most significant milestones in the country’s privatisation programme so far.
For Africa’s telecom sector, the Unitel IPO is one to watch. It shows how governments are increasingly using capital markets to reform strategic industries while attracting fresh investment. If the share sale is successful, it could strengthen confidence in Angola’s reform agenda and encourage other African countries considering similar privatisations to follow suit, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, and energy.
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Have a lovely Tuesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
