United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, has announced that its Artificial Intelligence chatbot, LEO is now enabled to carry out cross-border payment transactions.

Oliver Alawuba, group managing director/chief executive officer, UBA,

By this, LEO becomes Africa’s first AI-powered chatbot to facilitate cross-border payments, offering customers a seamless and instant way to transfer funds across the continent, a statement by Mr. Ramon Nasir, head of corporate communications at UBA, said.

The platform leverages the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) developed in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank), and allows individuals, traders, and corporates to transfer money in local currencies between African countries where the Central Bank has approved PAPSS operations.

Commenting on this milestone, Oliver Alawuba, group managing director/chief executive officer, UBA, said that as Africa’s global bank, UBA is driven by the need to constantly push boundaries and deliver services that speak to the needs of today’s Africa.

“The introduction of cross-border payments on LEO, in partnership with PAPSS, reflects our commitment to digital innovation, Pan-African integration, and customer-centric banking. This is not just a banking upgrade; it is a bold leap into the future of African finance,” he stated.

UBA PAPSS Instant Payment through LEO offers unmatched benefits including instant payments within a few seconds; availability via self-service channels; lower transaction processing fees and zero charges on the beneficiary.

Speaking more on the benefits,  Shamsideen Fasola, group head, Retail and Digital Banking,  that enhanced security and confidentiality and wider options for remittance products are other benefits that customers stand to gain from the service.

“This is a transformative step in Africa’s financial services landscape. With LEO now fully integrated with the PAPSS infrastructure, UBA customers can send and receive money across African borders in their local currencies within seconds. We’re not just simplifying transactions – we’re fostering intra-African trade and breaking down longstanding barriers to financial inclusion,” Fasola stated.

With this innovation, UBA is empowering account holders, traders, and corporates to transact quickly and efficiently across African markets, formalizing informal trade flows and supporting the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

As the first bank to enable cross-border payments via its chatbot on the continent, UBA continues to lead in innovation, customer experience, and digital banking transformation.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally.

Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.

Ikenna Ikeme, general manager of Regulatory Affairs at MTN Nigeria, has called on citizens and authorities to regard telecommunications infrastructure as vital national assets rather than merely the property of telecom providers.

Ikeme made these remarks while sharing his perspective as a member of the telecommunications industry and his experience in the regulatory field with participants of the MTN Media Innovation Programme in Lagos.

Highlighting the urgency, Ikeme stated that network infrastructure is often targeted during disputes with telecom companies, leading to deliberate acts of vandalism or service disruptions.

He stressed that such critical assets deserve the same level of protection as any essential national facility, arguing, “You cannot destroy national infrastructure or shut it down whenever there is a grievance.

With the protection of the government, the current administration has declared telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, deserving of this level of security. “

Ikeme expressed optimism that this development would reduce destructive incidents and foster a more stable environment for telecommunications services.

Looking ahead, Ikeme reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to long-term investment in Nigeria, stating that, ‘we intend to remain, to grow, and to keep contributing positively to the nation’s development.’

In closing, Ikeme touched on the evolving landscape of telecommunications in Nigeria, noting the importance of media support in promoting constructive narratives.

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that it has reduced incidents of extortion and unofficial charges in the identity enrolment process by over 40 per cent.

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC,

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, who disclosed this  at an event in Lagos at the weekend, attributed the drop to improved transparency in fee structure at the commission.

The CEO was represented by Lanre Yusuf, director, Information Technology and Identity Database, NINC.

The workshop, organised by the identity regulator in partnership with the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, focused on repositioning Nigeria’s digital identity landscape and combating misinformation.

According to Coker-Odusote, the sharp reduction in illicit charges is a direct result of reforms introduced by NIMC to curb racketeering and unauthorised payments, which have for years plagued the national identity registration process..

“Enrolment for the National Identification Number remains free. We have standardised modification and authentication fees, and these are publicly disclosed. Our enforcement of a transparent fee structure has resulted in a 40 per cent drop in extortion and unofficial charges,” the regulator said.

She explained that prior to her assumption of office, complaints about exploitative fees at enrolment centres were widespread, fuelling public distrust in the system.

However, she noted that the commission had since prioritised transparency and stakeholder accountability, ensuring that Nigerians no longer have to pay above the legally mandated fees. “We are addressing deep-rooted issues that once undermined public confidence in the enrolment process,” she said.

The NIMC chief added that the commission had introduced digital tools to reduce human interference in the registration process.

These include the NINAuth mobile app, the Self-Service NIN Enrolment and Modification app, and Contactless Biometric Solutions, all designed to make the system more efficient, secure, and user-friendly.

Coker-Odusote also reiterated the commission’s commitment to inclusion, stressing that no Nigerian should be left behind in the country’s digital identity transformation.

According to her, over 7,167 front-end enrolment agents and partners have been revalidated and retrained to serve the public professionally, with strict monitoring mechanisms now in place.

In addition, NIMC has deployed grievance redress officers across all 36 states to handle complaints from Nigerians about enrolment centres and agents, with a 24/7 toll-free line available to report any misconduct.

The reforms are part of broader efforts by the Commission to build a unified, secure, and people-centred digital identity system that facilitates access to government services, financial inclusion, social protection, and national planning.

Coker-Odusote called on media partners to support the Commission in disseminating accurate information, countering misinformation, and raising awareness about the benefits of digital identity.

“We are asking our partners in the media to help us combat fake news and promote transparency in the identity ecosystem. We need to ensure every Nigerian understands their rights and knows that their identity is key to accessing opportunities and services,” she said.