Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitope Adekule – Johnson: Special Adviser to the President on ICT Policy, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Salihu Dasuki, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President office the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia; Special Adviser to the President on Project Support, Office of the Vice President, Shuhdah Ahmed and Managing Director, PalmPay, Mr. Chika Nwosu during the Launch of Cross – Border Digital payments and Identity in Nigeria under the AfCETA at State House Auditorium in Abuja on Monday (30/03/2026).
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Government on Monday launched the “Cross-Border Digital Payments and Identity in Nigeria under the AfCFTA” report, calling on stakeholders to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to tap into the $3.5 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
In statement issued by media aide to Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, unveiled by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, at an event hosted by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with ODI Global under the Supporting Investment and Trade in Africa (SITA) programme, the high-level report emphasizes seamless digital payments and trusted identity systems.
Hadejia described the initiative as both timely and strategic, praising the coordination by the Office of the Vice President and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. He linked it to prior milestones like Nigeria’s Digital Trade Strategy and capacity-building for subnational leaders.
“Nigeria is increasingly assuming a leading role in shaping the digital trade agenda across the African continent,” Hadejia said, stressing that deepening AfCFTA engagement would unlock trade, foster growth, and create jobs for SMEs.
He highlighted the report’s focus on efficient cross-border payments backed by digital identity systems to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision. Nigerian fintechs like PalmPay and Moniepoint, with their vast user bases, will drive adoption alongside the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System.
“I appreciate the efforts of all stakeholders and urge us to move AfCFTA beyond a continental agreement to a $3.5 trillion trade juggernaut that will reinvigorate our industries, unlock intra-African trade, and domesticate African prosperity,” Hadejia added. He emphasized empowering small businesses through digital trade while addressing trust, identity, and logistics challenges.
Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, said the report would bolster the MSME ecosystem, noting shifts from informal payments via tools like Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN).
Special Assistant to the President on ICT Policy, Salihu Dasuki, revealed a new framework with partners to fast-track MSME payments, aligning with Tinubu’s agenda and last year’s subnational training.
Special Assistant on Project Support, Shuda Ahmed, commended ODI Global, warning that without affordable cross-border systems, MSMEs cannot scale beyond domestic markets.
Attendees included officials from ODI Global, AfCFTA, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and MSMEs.
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