General News
Verve Carters for Card Needs of Nigerians – Ifedi
Charles Ifedi is the managing director of Verve International an offshoot of InterSwitch. He is a thorough breed information Technology professional with over 15 year experience in the industry.
Ifedi has worked for America Express, Accenture, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and SystemSpecs before joining InterSwitch in 2001.
He spoke to chike onwuegbuchi on operations of Verve International towards becoming a global brand and other e-payment issues.
Nigeria’s e-Payment Space
e-Payment in Nigeria has improved considerably over the years. Flashing back to the time we introduced e-payment that is point of sales terminal (PoS) in Nigeria in 2004.
The biggest challenges then were based on merchants’ acceptance and networks. Presently, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) cashless policy, people are now embracing the platform; merchants are now more enlightened.
In 2007 and 2008, we were basically selling the idea of PoS adoption for the economy. But in 2013, people are spreading the news themselves.
Even the telecommunication companies have mapped out resources that will make it better. More importantly, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators have also come in making it possible for us to have data on PoS and increasing stability.
Although, we have not gotten there, but, compared to where we were back in 2004, Nigeria as a country has recorded significant improvements.
Soon we will get to the point where people on reaching to a merchant’s centre the first thing they will think is card not cash.
On estimation, presently 60% of customers who patronize merchants still think cash; but we foresee the time people can remember cash only when they do not have cards on them.
Adoption of Foreign Brands by Companies
I believe in value to the bank and value to the customer. Where I have an issue is a situation where a customer asks for a particular brand and you decline to present that brand.
However, as more brands deliver expected values, they shall continue to be accepted by the banks and expands customers’ choice.
Meanwhile, it is the prerogative of the regulator which is CBN to determine who contravene its directive on providing customers the opportunity to choose.
But if the deployment companies keep pushing more values into the market, like we are currently doing, the banks would not have option than to accept.
Also, from the banks’ point of view, they would prefer to increase their international visibility or rating.
They believe that one way to achieve that is to partner a particular global brand; they rarely talk about value to the customer hence they have to deliver on that goal.
Good as that may be I think banks should open it and allow customers to choose. They have to create more values to customers.
At the same time, if a particular bank fails to satisfy the customer’s wish he is free to seek other bank’s attention. That is the essence of competition.
I do not believe it is ideal. But the CBN is in the best position to enforce its directive. For emphasis sake, when a customer is not satisfied with the system of a bank, he is free to approach other bank.
To me, I prefer to focus on delivering values and allow CBN worry about that. It is as good as asking a bank for a loan.
When you discover a particular bank offers loans with little interest, of course, it makes better sense to approach them. Nobody will force you to take a loan at interest rate not convenient for you.
International Outlook of Verve
For us, our foremost target is to meet the needs of Nigerians. And Verve had two divisions-Verve Nigeria and Verve International.
The Verve Nigeria is concentrated on meeting the local needs of Nigerians. If we look at it, what is the percentage of Nigerians that travel abroad? We have less than 20%. In other words, the rest 80% Nigerians does not go anywhere.
Thus, our primary objective is to meet their needs; meet all they require. For the numbers that travel, we have various projects on-going targeted at them.
For instance, we want to make sure that our cards are accepted in all ATMs in US, UK and across Africa. However, until we get there we are not communicating more than we have.
We are not following way of companies that broadcast about what they are yet to achieve. When customers try it they get disappointed.
For instance, we are going to be live on all ATMs in US soonest.
We understand that the realities of Nigerians occur in several African countries as well.
The way we have brought financial inclusion that Microfinance banks can even issue cards, SMEs and multinationals could have cards; we have been able to replicate that in other countries. It took a lot of efforts for us to create our EMV card, after that we have been able to transfer the knowledge to other African countries.
That was why we created Verve International. The core objective is to go to Ghana, for instance, and tell the banks to issue Verve Cards to domestic users.
Because we know that 80% of Africans do not travel outside their countries, so why giving them international card.
The local card satisfies their local needs and International card can be issued on request as well. So the Discover agreement was signed under Verve International to ensure the Cards are acceptable in any part of the world.
Global Partnership
Since the separation of Verve and InterSwitch in April this year we have entered into partnership with Discover Financial Services brand, Diners Club International and others. But InterSwitch has what is called third party processing plan. It is a processor for MasterCard, Verve and Visa.
Verve as a company is separate and running its fortune. To expatiate on this, if bank “A” issues a MasterCard’s card and it is used in Bank “B’s ATM, it will pass through InterSwitch before getting to that Bank “B”. If it is a Verve Card, it will do the same thing.
That means bank “A” would have appointed InterSwitch as the processor, while Bank “B” would have accepted InterSwitch as Acquire Processor.
InterSwitch offers such services to Union pay of a country like China. It provides switching to any card brand that does not have local infrastructure, while Verve is a brand like those other clients of InterSwitch.
Rejection of Selected Cards by Some ATMs
Well, I am certain that every ATM in Nigeria accepts Verve cards. Before a bank can issue or accept a card it must be a member of that scheme.
So, a bank that wants to issue a MasterCard must be a member of MasterCard scheme. Like-wise, if the bank want to issue Verve Card. So, each bank has to go through screening process before they can be granted an issuing or acquiring member.
In the case of Nigeria, Verve does not discriminate, while others may discriminate. But the real reason is about being a member of the scheme.
They have players like InterSwitch that can do a co-acquiring service for them and basically enable their ATM to accept such card. In terms of acceptance, there is no ATM that cannot accept Verve, Visa and MasterCard because InterSwitch provides them with co-acquiring service, but on the issuing side they may not be able to issue if they are not on the scheme.
For example, when a Microfinance bank buys an ATM, it does not have money to join a MasterCard or Visa, so it cannot issue. When you put an ATM there, the machine by design cannot accept a MasterCard or Visa, so it needs another bank to sponsor it.
On the other hand, it will appear as though the commercial bank owns the ATM. It takes a company like InterSwitch to implement that for the bank.
So, there is a kind of discrimination by those big players. If not for competition monopoly would have even made it worse.
Resolving ATM Related Cases
With Verve cards as long as the issuing bank logs it completely we can resolve any issue within three days.
If it were Verve, the holder needs to complain to his bank (the issuer). The bank logs it into our Arbiter platform, which enables us to resolve the case within 72 hours, unfailingly.
I cannot give account about other cards anyway, but in Verve we take things like this very seriously. The challenge will typically occur because if I go to the ATM next door and my card gets trapped, definitely, the cash will be in the cassette; there are four cassettes.
Money is parked in each of the cassettes, but there is the fifth one, where rejected money is parked. The money that could not be dispensed is parked in the fifth which functions like a dust-bin.
So, the bank would clear the ATM daily and could easily see, either from the bin or at the journals of the ATM where the cash not dispensed is stored.
As long you have logged your claim, they should be able to resolve it swiftly. The challenge may be for customers at the remote locations.
Encouraging Use of e-Payment
It is on record that Verve Card first introduced reward on Cards in Nigeria. The reward was meant for both the user and the merchants.
They were introduced at tipping-points to enable us give back to the users and the people who motivate them to partake.
Today, when you pay cash, sometimes you do not collect your change, but in cards you pay accurately.
Meanwhile, we are redesigning our incentives because of the roles CBN has brought around PoS. So, a cardholder knows that when he uses card he can get a reward of up to 5%. Right now, the scheme-Reward Money is focused only on PoS.
We are also introducing it on the web in the coming month, so as to encourage people to partake in internet and PoS transactions.
Location for Reward
What happens is that it accumulates at certain locations. There are over 100 thousand merchants in Nigeria currently.
All of them have not signed up to the incentive package. So, if anybody signs up the customers are assured of benefiting. On rewardmoney.com it is stated the percentage that is obtainable on partaking in card usage.
Other Value Added Services
Verve was the first to go into partnership with InterSwitch to roll out QuickTeller. It implies that with Verve card users can buy airtime, pay bills at ATM, on the web and transfer money on the ATM.
Other new innovation we just unveiled will make online transactions more convenient for the users. The innovation is such that Verve will remember who you are and eliminates some queries like who areyou? That way you can do transactions even faster.
Dr. Evans Woherem, an award-winning African technology researcher, analyst, and writer, has proposed a comprehensive and implementable strategy to end terrorism, banditry, and criminal violence in Nigeria, warning that the country’s prolonged insecurity has reached a critical point that demands urgent, coordinated action.
Titled “A Comprehensive Strategy for Ending Terrorism, Banditry, and Criminal Violence in Nigeria: A Pragmatic, Multi-Layered, and Implementable Framework,” the paper presents a holistic roadmap designed to reverse more than a decade of escalating violence that has claimed thousands of lives, displaced communities, weakened local economies, and eroded public trust in governance.
According to him, insecurity has become deeply entrenched in everyday life across the country. “Terrorism, banditry, and criminal violence have become so commonplace that they now dominate daily conversations among Nigerians,” Dr. Woherem noted, adding that while the crisis is most acute in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions, “its effects are now being felt even in the southern parts of the country.”
Citing the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, which ranks Nigeria sixth globally in terms of terrorism impact, Dr. Woherem described the ranking as “a sobering statistical confirmation that terrorism still weighs heavily on the Nigerian state.”
The paper traces the roots of the crisis to the emergence of Boko Haram in 2009 and the subsequent rise of splinter groups such as ISWAP. It recalls high-profile incidents including the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, the Dapchi and Kankara kidnappings, and a series of mass abductions and attacks on schools and places of worship recorded in 2025.
Dr. Woherem observed that banditry, largely driven by ransom payments, “has spread across the entire nation, creating fear, weakening productivity, and pushing millions of households deeper into poverty.”
While acknowledging the role of military action, the author cautioned against relying on force alone. “Nigeria cannot defeat insurgency and violent crime through arms and ammunition alone,” he said. “Any sustainable solution must confront the internal conditions that allow insecurity to thrive.”
Among the key drivers identified in the paper by Dr. Woherem, are porous borders, arms proliferation, youth unemployment, economic stagnation, and persistent conflicts over land and resources, challenges Dr. Woherem stressed can be addressed through “a deliberate, intelligence-led, and whole-of-society approach.”
At the heart of the proposed framework, Woherem noted, is a call for intelligence-driven security operations, including the establishment of a National Counter-Insurgency and Intelligence Fusion Centre. “Security operations must be guided by accurate, actionable intelligence rather than fear-led mass actions that often harm civilians and undermine public trust,” he stated.
The paper also advocates comprehensive policing reforms, including the creation of constitutionally backed state police systems supported by a more specialized federal police structure. “Nigeria’s over-centralised policing model is structurally incapable of effectively addressing widespread criminality across such a vast and diverse country.”
Recognising the realities at the grassroots, Woherem calls for the formal regulation of community-based security groups, and noted that “ignoring vigilante groups is dangerous, and banning them outright is unrealistic,” but stressed that their roles must be clearly defined, regulated, and subject to strict oversight.
On border security, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin, the author warned that instability in neighbouring countries continues to fuel Nigeria’s insecurity. “No permanent solution is possible without deep regional cooperation,” he said, advocating an Integrated Border Management system supported by joint operations with neighbouring states.
The paper places strong emphasis on prevention through economic inclusion, youth employment, and skills development. “Jobs and income remain the most powerful tools for preventing recruitment into violent groups,” Dr. Woherem asserted, adding that immediate livelihood opportunities significantly weaken the appeal of extremist narratives.
He also called for structured deradicalisation and reintegration programmes, noting that “a humane, community-accepted process is essential for breaking cycles of violence and preventing relapse into extremism.”
Dr. Woherem further emphasised the need for governance reforms and accountability in the security sector. “Without transparency, oversight, and institutional integrity, even the best security strategies will fail,” he warned.
The white paper outlines a phased implementation plan from 2025 to 2030, beginning with intelligence fusion, pilot state police initiatives, community security registration, drone surveillance, and financial crackdowns on terror networks, before expanding into nationwide reforms and long-term consolidation.
Concluding, Dr. Woherem expressed cautious optimism about Nigeria’s future. “Nigeria can overcome this prolonged phase of insecurity,” he said, “but only through political will, coordinated institutions, and the active participation of society.”
He added that the proposed framework offers “a realistic pathway to restoring security, rebuilding public trust, and unlocking Nigeria’s vast human and economic potential.”
In a market where less than 3% of land is formally registered and property fraud remains systemic, infrastructure, not apps, is becoming the defining battleground for real estate innovation.
L-R: Ndifreke Ikokpu, COO, Sytemap, HRM Oba Akintoye Adeoye, President REDAN & Cholatte Odunlade-Akeji, Director, RightHome
That reality came into sharp focus on December 18, 2025, as the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sytemap Technologies Limited, signaling a major industry endorsement of Sytemap’s land and real estate transaction infrastructure.
The partnership centers on RightHOME, a jointly developed digital real estate platform powered by Sytemap’s secure cloud infrastructure, mapping systems, transaction monitoring, and fraud-prevention architecture, with REDAN driving ecosystem adoption through its nationwide developer network.
Nigeria’s real estate sector processes transactions worth trillions of naira annually, yet remains heavily manual, fragmented, and vulnerable to disputes. Industry data suggests unresolved title issues alone lock up ₦36 trillion in dead capital, limiting access to finance and slowing development.
“This MoU represents a shift from fragmented digitization to coordinated infrastructure,” said Nnamdi Uba, CEO at Sytemap. “When the industry body itself aligns around shared standards, verification, and technology, innovation can finally scale responsibly.”
Under the agreement:
· REDAN will onboard registered developers and promote adoption of the platform as a trusted digital channel.
· Sytemap will deliver secure hosting, real-time monitoring, escrow-aligned transaction workflows, and compliance with Nigeria’s data protection regulations.
· Joint standards will be developed for digital verification, transparency, and asset mapping.
From a technology perspective, the partnership reflects a growing consensus that solving African real estate challenges requires deep infrastructure, not surface-level marketplaces. Fraud detection, uptime reliability, auditability, and regulatory alignment, areas often overlooked in proptech, are central to Sytemap’s approach.
HRM Oba Akintoye Adeoye, representing REDAN noted, “This collaboration allows developers to operate in a system where trust is embedded, not assumed. That is critical for long-term growth.”
For the broader tech ecosystem, the MoU stands out as a rare example of industry-led validation, where a national association formally aligns with a technology provider to modernize an entire sector.
Ndifreke Ikokpu, COO at Sytemap signed on behalf of Sytemap while Cholatte Odunlade – Akeji, CEO of RightHome signed on behalf of the Special Purpose Vehicle.
As pressure mounts to unlock housing finance, attract institutional capital, and reduce transaction risk, the REDAN–Sytemap partnership positions digital land infrastructure not as an optional upgrade, but as a foundational requirement for the future of real estate in Nigeria.
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, has cautioned that failure to implement Nigeria’s new tax laws by January 1, 2026, would leave the vast majority of workers and businesses at a disadvantage.
Taiwo Oyedele
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Oyedele said postponing the reforms would mean that “the bottom 98 per cent of workers remain overtaxed,” while businesses continue to grapple with multiple taxation and miss out on exemptions.
He added that small and unprofitable enterprises would still be subject to minimum taxes, and hidden VAT charges would keep driving up the cost of essentials such as food, healthcare, and education.
His comments come amid calls by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and several civil society groups for a suspension of the reforms. Oyedele argued that rather than halting implementation, specific areas of concern should be identified and corrected.
“So, we need to be clear about what we are asking for,” he said. “Even if it is established that there have been substantial alterations to what the National Assembly passed, my view will be to identify those provisions… and go ahead to implement the law as passed by the NASS, while you address the issues as to how they got in there in the first place.”
Oyedele acknowledged that even the version passed by lawmakers contained sections requiring amendment, citing issues with referencing and definitions.
He also addressed controversy over alleged discrepancies between the gazetted laws and those approved by the National Assembly, noting that without access to the officially harmonised bills certified by the clerk, it was difficult to determine differences.
He pointed to Section 41(8), which initially appeared to require a 20 per cent deposit but was later excluded from the final version, stressing that some draft materials circulating in the media did not originate from the House committee. “I think we should allow them do the investigation,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu has already signed the four tax reform bills into law, describing them as the most significant overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.
The reforms — the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act — are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, under a unified Nigeria Revenue Service.
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