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E-Financial

150m Reasons to Stop Fraud @ Checkout

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Security is a big deal for us consumers. That’s why we invest in gate men and guards for our homes and expensive anti-virus software for our PCs.

Despite that, how many of us have actually paused to consider what happens after we pay with our credit or debit cards at the checkout? Where does our information go to? Or, who is protecting it? In just a few short seconds after handing over our card, we’ve paid and gone on our way, with little thought to the process that takes place behind the scenes.

Behind each transaction is actually a carefully orchestrated process. When a Visa cardholder uses a card to buy a pair of shoes, it’s actually the acquirer — the merchant’s bank — that pays the merchant for the shoes.

Then, the issuer — the cardholder’s bank — reimburses the acquirer, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Last, the issuer collects from the cardholder by withdrawing funds from the cardholder’s bank account if a debit account is used, or through billing if a credit account is used.

With all the linkages and players involved, you might wonder about the security of it all. How does the system detect that it’s really you, the genuine cardholder, who is making the purchase? What happens if you lose your card? Will a thief be able to conduct a fraudulent transaction using your information with the same ease and speed?

The Art Of Fraud Prediction

The next time you pay with your card, pause and consider how your bank decides whether or not to authorize your request.

All transactions must go through a payments processing network such as VisaNet, a robust and secure system that ensures that your payments are not just fast and reliable, but safe too.

Sophisticated risk management services within the payments network ensure that every player in the payments ecosystem is protected – from cardholders like you, to merchants and banks – from losses due to fraud, theft, or unauthorized use of debit, credit and prepaid cards.

Chances are your bank depends on risk management services such as Visa Advanced Authorization that monitor transactions, detect any unusual spending patterns and flag possible fraud – all in real-time.

The payments network analyzes thousands of examples of valid purchase transactions and constantly updates account transaction patterns so that future purchases can be evaluated against the most current information.

So for example, if you only ever use your card to purchase online music, a transaction for an expensive widescreen HD television, perhaps in another country, would be identified by the payments system as unusual.

A rating of that transaction’s potential for fraud is then sent to the card issuer, your bank, including information on whether it was part of a reported third-party data security compromise.

With this information on hand, your bank can respond immediately to the merchant on whether to accept or decline the transaction.

If suspicious, your financial institution may choose to temporarily put charges on hold, notifying you as soon as possible to verify the legitimacy of the charges.

This is important, because the ability to analyze transactions in real-time helps stop fraud at the checkout – even before it takes place!

At Visa, the reliability and security of every one of the 150 million transactions we process each day lies with VisaNet, the world’s largest retail electronic payments processing network.

Every day, VisaNet connects up to 2.1 billion cards, millions of acceptance locations, 2.0 million ATMs and 14,800 financial institutions.

This translates to more than US$6.5 trillion in global consumer spend on our products every year.

That’s a huge responsibility on our shoulders, and we know we can never take this trust for granted.

Criminals and fraudsters never stop. They are smart, nimble and determined – moving quickly to take advantage of new opportunities to perpetuate fraud.

This is why we have invested heavily in new technologies and innovations – from encryption of data to chip technologies – to make sure we are always one step ahead.

Ours is a system that is consistently and constantly upgraded to provide new services, enhancements and capabilities that consumers expect.

Visa also collaborates with the broader payment community on innovative data security techniques, authentication solutions and technologies and fraud prevention strategies to keep payments safe.

This is why over the past five years, even as global transaction volume has increased dramatically, global fraud rates have remained near historic lows.

So the next time you see the word ‘approved’ appear on the Visa card terminal in front of you, you know that your payment has been made not just successfully, but securely too.

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

E-Financial

FIRS Launches Revised SOP to Streamline Tax Payment

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Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has revised its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as part of efforts to improve consistency, transparency, and service delivery in tax administration across the country.

FIRS Launches Revised SOP to Streamline Tax Payment

According to a statement on Monday in Abuja by Mr. Collins Omokaro, Special Adviser on Communication Strategy and Advocacy to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, the revised SOP offers a unified framework for core tax processes including registration, payment, audit, and enforcement.

“This is about people, experience, and impact. It’s a step toward a tax system that supports voluntary compliance and national development,” Omokaro said.

He explained that while FIRS field offices have long operated with good intentions, inconsistent methods across different locations often created confusion for taxpayers.

The revised SOP, he said, is designed to eliminate such disparities by providing a single, clear roadmap for operations in all of the Service’s over 300 offices nationwide.

More than just a procedural manual, the new SOP is described as a statement of institutional direction, reflecting values that define the future of the Service.

Omokaro quoted Dr. Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of FIRS, as saying that “This SOP is not just a technical document—it is a declaration of who we are becoming as a service. It reflects our commitment to transparency and service to the Nigerian people.”

The SOP update is one component of a broader reform agenda underway at FIRS, which aims to transform the agency into a fully service-oriented institution.

The changes are also aligned with the ongoing digital transformation within the agency, which is intended to harmonize human and technological systems for faster, more reliable, and taxpayer-friendly service delivery.

Internally, the SOP is expected to enhance operational efficiency and provide a foundation for improved staff training, clearer guidance, and stronger evaluation systems. Omokaro noted that every FIRS employee is expected to study, implement, and embody the procedures outlined in the new document.

“With this rollout, every FIRS staff member has a clear mandate: study it, apply it, and embody it. That’s how we’ll earn the trust of Nigerians,” he said.

The SOP reform is being introduced as part of the Service’s broader mission to reposition itself as a modern tax authority grounded in accountability, consistency, and a shared sense of national purpose.

The move comes as the FIRS continues to modernize its processes, improve tax collection efficiency, and foster a culture of voluntary compliance—all aimed at strengthening revenue mobilization to support Nigeria’s development agenda.

 


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E-Financial

Confidence in Nigerian Economy Grows as Forex Inflows Reach $5.96Bn

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Foreign exchange inflows from domestic sources have reached their highest level in six years, according to a report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The increase reflects a growing confidence in the Nigerian economy and the impact of recent macroeconomic reforms by the federal government.

The CBN’s latest report revealed that foreign exchange inflows into the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) surged to $5.96 billion in May 2025, representing a 62 per cent increase from $3.67 billion in April. Of this total, 83.2 per cent, $4.96 billion came from domestic sources, marking the highest domestic contribution to forex inflows since 2019.

The growth was primarily driven by a sharp rise in contributions from exporters and importers, which jumped from $655.7 million to $3.11 billion. Inflows from non-bank corporates also rose from $1 billion to $1.11 billion, while individual inflows surged from $15.1 million to $91.4 million. Conversely, the CBN’s own contribution fell significantly from $1.35 billion to $649.8 million over the same period.

Foreign sources accounted for 16.8 per cent of total inflows, rising by 51.7 per cent from $657.4 million to $997.6 million, the highest level in three months. Inflows from foreign portfolio investors climbed by 61.3 per cent to $880.8 million, while other foreign corporates contributed $83.9 million, up 10 per cent. However, foreign direct investments declined slightly by 6.3 per cent to $32.9 million.

The CBN also released its latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report, which showed continued business expansion. The composite PMI stood at 52.1 points in May, just below the 52.2 recorded in April. All sectors remained in expansion territory, with agriculture at 53.4, industry at 51.6, and services at 51.7.

Analysts at Cordros Capital said the rise in business activity and forex inflows was due to an improving macroeconomic outlook. “Looking ahead, we expect sustained expansion in private sector activity, underpinned by improving macroeconomic fundamentals such as a more stable naira and moderating inflation. Nonetheless, tight financial conditions remain a potential headwind to broader economic performance in the near term,” the firm stated.

President Bola Tinubu’s macroeconomic reforms have drawn widespread praise from business leaders and international analysts. Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, commended the President’s efforts, saying, “Your leadership has been both decisive and reassuring. Your actions have reignited hope for a prosperous Nigeria of today and of the future.”

He highlighted the administration’s removal of fuel subsidies, unification of the naira exchange rate, and pro-Nigeria industrial policy as key achievements. “From the very start of the administration, Your Excellency has worked tirelessly to foster an enabling environment for private sector-led growth,” Dangote added.

Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, also praised the administration’s performance. “Under your leadership, we have witnessed real and rapid progress,” he said, pointing to the government’s infrastructure initiatives and policy reforms.

On the global front, credit rating agencies have noted the positive impact of Nigeria’s economic reforms. Moody’s Investors Service recently upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign rating from Caa1 to B3, citing “a more resilient fiscal position, stronger external accounts, and the government’s demonstrated commitment to macroeconomic and structural reforms.”

Fitch Ratings followed suit in April 2025, upgrading Nigeria’s rating from “B-” to “B” and declaring a stable outlook. The agency credited the administration for improved policy coherence, foreign exchange liberalisation, and progress toward eliminating fuel subsidies.

“These have improved policy coherence and credibility and reduced economic distortions and near-term risks to macroeconomic stability, enhancing resilience in the context of persistent domestic challenges and heightened external risks,” Fitch said.


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E-Financial

AGF Drops Charges Against Fidelity Bank MD, Cites Lack of Direct Involvement

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The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has dismissed reactions trailing the withdrawal of criminal charges against Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc.

In a statement issued on Monday, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity, said the decision followed a careful review of the case, which revealed that Onyeali-Ikpe had no direct connection to the alleged fraudulent transactions.

The AGF exercised its constitutional authority to enter a nolle prosequi, effectively discontinuing the prosecution to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

Investigations confirmed that Onyeali-Ikpe was neither the account officer nor the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank when the account in question was opened.

“The decision does not absolve Fidelity Bank Plc from the allegations contained in the charge, which remains pending before the court,” the statement emphasized.

The AGF reaffirmed commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law, urging the public to allow the legal process to run its course.

“We urge the public to refrain from speculation or jumping to conclusions. The AGF remains committed to ensuring that all those found wanting will face the full weight of the law,” Ogundele added.

Punch reporters contacted legal analysts and financial experts, who noted that the decision might influence public perception of corporate governance standards within the Nigerian banking sector.

Meanwhile, Fidelity Bank has yet to officially respond to the development.


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