
Business
eNaira records 200,000 users, N4bn transactions value — Emefiele
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), digital currency, eNaira has recorded 200,000 volumes and four billion Naira value of transactions since its inauguration in 2021.
Mr Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the grand finale of the “eNaira Hackathon”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hackathon is a CBN’s collaborative initiative with the African Fintec Foundry (AFF).
it is aimed at bringing together teams of talented entrepreneurs, developers, designers, solution developers, problem-solvers and ‘code magicians’ from Africa to develop innovative solutions for improved adoption of the eNaira.
The competition was part of efforts by the CBN to drive financial inclusion, facilitate macroeconomic growth and integrate the Nigerian economy into the world-leading economies through innovation and cutting-edge emerging technologies.

NAN also recalls that the eNaira was inaugurated on Oct. 25, 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari, making Nigeria the first African country to launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
Emefiele said since its inauguration, eNaira had reached 840,000 downloads, with about 270,000 active wallets comprising more than 252,000 consumer wallets and 17,000 merchant wallets.
According to him, the digital currency will enhance financial inclusion, support poverty reduction, enable direct welfare disbursement to citizens, support a resilient payments ecosystem and improve availability and usability of central bank money.
“The eNaira will also facilitate diaspora remittances, reduce the cost of processing cash, and also reduce cost and improve efficiency of cross-border payment,” he said.
The apex bank governor, however, said that the eNaira was the same Naira with far more possibilities.
“The eNaira will make a significant positive difference to Nigeria and Nigerians. It was also developed to provide Nigerians with a cheap, safe and trusted means of payment.
“It is unlike the offline payments channels like agent networks, USSD, wearables, cards and near field communication technology.
“The eNaira would give access to financial services to underserved and unbanked segments of the population,” he said.
He said that innovative products and services built on the eNaira would enhance Nigerians’ participation in the digital economy and promote further development of a burgeoning Fintech ecosystem.
“To achieve these set out objectives, the project adopted a phased- approach with the first phase focusing on banked users, while the policy objective of the second phase borders around financial inclusion.
“In addition, the eNaira platform possesses an innovation layer for products and services to be built with the aim of enhancing Nigerians’ participation in the digital economy,” he said.
According to Emefiele, the second phase of the project has begun and is intended to drive financial inclusion by onboarding unbanked and underserved users leveraging offline channels.
He said that the CBN was now ready to accommodate unbanked Nigerians in the eNaira platform
“Greater success is envisioned for the project with phase two expected to deliver more gains with a target of about eight million active users based on estimations using the diffusion of innovation model.
“When we launched the eNaira, we promised to increase the level of financial inclusion in the Country because just like the Naira, the eNaira is expected to be accessible to all Nigerians .
“It will provide more possibilities to bring in the unbanked into the digital economy.
”I am pleased to inform you that by next week, Nigerians, both banked and unbanked, will be able to open an eNaira wallet and conduct transactions by simply dialling *997 from their phones,” he said.
According to Mr kingsley Obiora, CBN’s Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, the use of physical cash is gradually getting out of fashion across the globe due to the growth of digital currencies.
“In south Korea, 77 per cent no longer use cash to do payment, while in the Philippines it is 30 per cent.
“In Nigeria, we are also seeing the same decline in the use of cash, the minting of currencies in the CBN has been reducing in the last couple of years.
“So alongside this reduction in the use of cash has also been an explosion in e-business and we have seen the value of e-business grow from 393 billion dollars in 2014 to about 2.4 trillion dollars now.
“If you look at this movement, you will realise that the central banks in the world are responding to yearnings of citizens.
“That is why 96 per cent of central banks in the world are either working on digital currencies or they have done so already,” he said.
Daniel Awe, the Group head, AFF, said that the CBN had transformed from traditional regulator to a smart regulator.
Awe said that the Hackathon was a platform that brings entrepreneurs, coders and product managers together to solve problems and build new business model.
“All over the world, there has been disagreement between innovators and regulators.
“This is because regulators usually look at impact on financial stability, impact of those innovators on consumers as well as the risk, while the innovators look at the opportunity in their ideas.
“However, this CBN is different as it has over the years partnered with innovators that will create jobs and bring value,” he said. (NAN)
Business
Enugu Air Launches New Website
…moves online services to www.enuguairlines.ng
Enugu Air has announced the launch of its new official website, enuguairlines.ng, as part of efforts to provide passengers and customers with a better, safer and more convenient digital experience.
The airline said the migration to the new website is designed to improve how passengers connect with Enugu Air and access its services online, including flight bookings, schedules and the latest updates.
Announcing the development, the airline said: “We’ve moved! We’re innovating! We’ve migrated to a better, safer and convenient website to connect you to the world.”
Passengers can now access Enugu Air’s online services through its new web address, enuguairlines.ng, which the airline described as its new digital home.
The airline urged passengers and prospective travellers to save the new web address and use it for flight bookings, checking schedules and obtaining the latest information about its operations.

“Same Enugu Air. New web address,” the airline stated, emphasising that the change represents an improvement in its digital platform while retaining the Enugu Air brand and services.
The airline further encouraged customers to visit, www.enuguairlines.ng for all flight-related information and online services.
It further stated that the old website, enuguairlines•com has been discarded and no longer in use.
Business
Nigeria records 8.51m terabytes of data use in first half of 2026
Nigerians consumed a record 8.51 million terabytes of data in the first half of 2026, underscoring the country’s accelerating shift toward a digital-first economy.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed this. Specifically, in January, consumption was 1.385 million terabytes; February, 1.260 million terabytes and March, 1.422 million terabytes.
In April, consumption was 1.414 million terabytes. It climbed to 1.504 million terabytes in May and 1.532 million terabytes in June.
In 2025 alone, Nigerians consumed over 13.2 million terabytes of data, a 35 per cent increase from 2024, reflecting how connectivity has become essential for daily life.
The surge in consumption was driven largely by the twin giants of the telecom sector, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, whose half-year reports revealed data services have firmly overtaken voice as the primary revenue stream.

According to industry figures, average monthly data usage per subscriber rose sharply, reflecting the growing reliance on mobile broadband for work, entertainment, and commerce.
Streaming platforms, social media, fintech apps, and remote work tools have all contributed to the spike in demand.
MTN Nigeria reported that its 55.7 million active data subscribers consumed an average of 14.8 gigabytes per month, representing a 15.2 per cent increase year-on-year. Overall, MTN’s data traffic surged by 25.8 per cent across its network in the period.
This translated into a massive N1.70 trillion in data revenue, a 38.4 per cent jump compared to the same period in 2025. Data now accounts for more than half of MTN’s total service revenue, dwarfing its voice earnings of N993.5 billion, which grew at a modest 12 per cent.
Airtel Nigeria also posted strong numbers, recording N691 billion in data revenue ($507 million). While Airtel’s voice services contributed to a combined N1.42 trillion in voice earnings alongside MTN, the clear trend is that data has become the dominant driver of growth.
Together, MTN and Airtel generated N2.4 trillion from data services in H1 2026, cementing their role as the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.
MTN invested N620.5 billion in capital expenditure during the period, focusing on expanding 4G coverage, scaling 5G rollout, and strengthening fibre infrastructure. The company’s aggressive push into next-generation networks is aimed at meeting the surging demand for high-speed connectivity.
Airtel, meanwhile, faced challenges with fibre cuts and vandalism, forcing reinvestments to stabilize its network. The operator is blending 5G expansion with satellite partnerships to extend coverage into rural and semi-urban areas, where demand for reliable Internet is rising.
Despite these investments, many consumers continue to express dissatisfaction with service quality. Complaints of slow speeds, unstable connections, and high costs remain widespread, highlighting the gap between consumption growth and infrastructure capacity.
The NCC has repeatedly urged operators to deepen investments in fibre, towers, and spectrum to sustain the country’s digital transformation. Analysts note that the sector is undergoing a structural shift from voice-first to data-led growth, with internet connectivity now central to economic activity.
Industry experts predict that Nigeria’s data consumption will continue to rise exponentially as smartphone penetration increases and more services migrate online. The rollout of 5G is expected to further accelerate usage, enabling innovations in fintech, e-commerce, healthtech, and entertainment.
The consumption of 8.51 million terabytes in H1 2026 marks a historic high for Nigeria’s telecom industry. It reflects not only the appetite of a digitally hungry population but also the broader transformation of the economy.
With MTN and Airtel leading the charge, the challenge now lies in improving service quality, expanding infrastructure, and ensuring affordable access for millions of Nigerians. As data becomes the lifeblood of communication and commerce, the telecom sector’s ability to keep pace with demand will determine how effectively Nigeria harnesses the opportunities of the digital age.
Business
AFRAA welcomes Enugu Air, strengthens Nigeria’s Domestic Aviation growth
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has admitted Enugu Air as Member, extending the Association’s membership base in Nigeria’s fast-growing domestic aviation market and reaffirming AFRAA’s commitment to supporting the continued development of African carriers across the continent.
This was announced by AFRAA in Nairobi on Wednesday, making Enugu Air the 50th Member of the association, joining the AFRAA airline fraternity, collectively representing more than 85 per cent of total international traffic carried by African airlines.
Speaking on the occasion, AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, said, “We are delighted to welcome Enugu Air into the AFRAA fraternity.

“As a state-backed carrier serving Nigeria’s rapidly expanding domestic market, Enugu Air represents the kind of homegrown investment that is vital to building resilient air connectivity across our continent.

“We look forward to supporting the airline through the IOSA certification process and to its continued growth within the AFRAA membership, as we work together to advance the cause of unified African skies.”
Reacting to the development, the CEO of Enugu, Capt Tolu Ita, described the admission into AFRAA as a major milestone in the airline’s short history.
“We are honoured to join the AFRAA fraternity. This membership underscores Enugu Air’s commitment to safe, reliable, and affordable air travel for Nigerians while contributing to the vision of a unified African aviation market.
“We look forward to collaborating with fellow AFRAA members and leveraging the association’s support as we grow our network and pursue IOSA certification,” Tolu stated.
Founded on July 7, 2025, Enugu Air commenced commercial operations with a fleet of Embraer E170/E190/E195 aircraft.
The airline, which has its headquarters in Enugu and operates from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, currently serves nine domestic destinations including Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Benin City.
As part of the airline’s growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
As part of its growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
The admission of Enugu Air aligns with AFRAA’s strategic priorities and strengthens the voice of the association. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies, remains central to the realization of a truly integrated African aviation market.
Meanwhile, founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry.
The association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable air transport industry in Africa, where African airlines become key players and drivers of African economic development.
AFRAA membership cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators.
The association’s members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines.
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