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Google play store removes CBN’s eNaira app after negative reviews and poor rating

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eNaira Wallet application has been removed from Google Play Store barely 36 hours after its publication by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari launched the central bank digital currency, called eNaira, on Monday.

To access the eNaira, users have to download the ‘speed wallet’, which allows users to conduct transactions with speed and ease. It is the digital storage that holds the eNaira and is held and managed on a distributed ledger.

It was reported that users rated the application low and made several compliants on the store.

As of 05pm today when Press men visited play store, the eNaira speed wallet had been unpublished.

But the eNaira Merchant App, which has considerable positive comments is available for download.

When our correspondet visted Apple Store, where the App was rated four of the obtainable five stars, the eNaira wallet is still downloadable.

Twenty-four hours after the eNaira App was published over 100, ooo users had downloaded it.

Users who had downloaded the application said that they have not been asked to update the 8.76 megabytes application.

The eNaira speed wallet had a rating of 2.0 of the obtainable 5.0 from 2,150 reviews on Playstore as of 5:45pm on Monday as users complained of glitches.

It is unclear if the App was unpublished by Google because of the poor rating and negative reviews or the offeror – CBN.

Mail sent to CBN’s customer care email address for the application – helpdesk@enaira.gov.ng – has yet to be replied as of the time of filing this report.

A large number of reviewers of the app on Play Store earlier complained about bugs.

According to them, they encountered challenges trying to set up an account.

While some said the App is not accepting their e-mail addresses, others complained that it was rejecting their Bank Verification Numbers.

One of them, Omenkukwu Chinedu, said, “Very poor user experience so far. It is a known fact that email was not a mandatory requirement setting up BVN, now this app wants to use the BVN email. This will stampede a lot of people trying to update their BVN.”

Oghenevwogaga Olotu added, “About 80 per cent of Nigerians don’t have emails linked to their BVN and to use the app they expect Nigerians to start going to banks to fic it just to use an app? If CBN wants eNaira wallet to be used in our day-to-day living, then they should make it easy to use and accessible for everyone. Everything in Nigeria always has to be complicated.”

Kadiri Akeem said, “Great App and seems promising. More than an hour after I agreed the activation link should be sent to my email, it has not been sent. I have requested a resend several times, yet no response.”

Also, Anyaogu Peter said, “I don’t have access to the email linked to my BVN anymore. To use your App, I will have to go and change it. A better way would have been to use phone numbers. That would accommodate everyone.”

Gieve Blackjoe expressed displeasure over the App, saying, “When I read about this innovation by CBN, I was thrilled but I am not enthused anymore. I am rather being discouraged from using this maiden platform that should be seamless as anticipated. I will uninstall it.”

George Victor complained that he was finding it difficult to transact on the App.

Reacting to the complaints, CBN said, “We apologise for the difficulties you experienced while registering with us. We understand this can be frustrating.

“We would chat with you with regards to your experience with us. We are working hard to improve the App.

“We are working towards making this better. We regret the inconvenience you had faced. helpdesk@enaira.gov.ng.”

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UBA appoints Henrietta Ugboh as independent non-executive director

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The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced the appointment of Henrietta Ugboh as an independent non-executive director.

In a statement on Wednesday, UBA said the appointment has been approved by the necessary regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

UBA also announced the retirement of Owanari Duke, an independent non-executive director who joined the UBA Group board in October 2012.

Tony Elumelu, chairman of UBA, said Ugboh brings experience and expertise, which includes commercial banking, credit, and risk management to the UBA board.

“Henrietta Ugboh brings a track record of professional success, integrity and leadership, which will further strengthen the UBA Group Board, underlining once again the Group’s commitment to robust corporate governance,” Elumelu said.

According to the bank, Ugboh holds a degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, an MBA from ESUT Business School, and is an alumna of Harvard Business School’s executive management programme.

UBA also said Ugboh has over 30 years of experience in banking with Citibank and is an honorary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and a fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).

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MultiChoice Nigeria loses 243k subscribers in six months, blames inflation

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French firm, Canal+ Group offers to buy MultiChoice for $1.69bn

Multichoice Group, an African pay-TV operator, says its Nigerian subsidiary lost 243,000 subscribers across its DStv and GOtv services between April and September 2024.

In its financial result for the year ended September 30, 2024, published on Tuesday, MultiChoice said high cost of food, electricity, and petrol have forced many of its customers to ditch their decoders.

The company said Nigeria and Zambia recorded the largest share of subscribers loss.

It added that the pressure on its subscriber base in Rest of Africa (RoA) operations continued from the previous year leading to a loss of 566,000 subscribers across the operations in the six months under review.

“The group’s linear subscriber base declined by 11% or 1.8m subscribers YoY to 14.9m active subscribers at 30 September 2024,” MultiChoice said.

“The loss in the Rest of Africa has been primarily due to the significant consumer pressure in Nigeria, where inflation has remained above 30% for the majority of the last 12 months and, more recently, due to extreme power disruptions in Zambia.

“Of this decline, 298k related to Zambia and 243k related to Nigeria, with remaining markets on the continent reflecting only a minor decline of 25k.”

On foreign exchange (FX) rate, the company said the continued depreciation of the naira against the dollar has resulted in further losses on non-quasi equity loans.

“The group held USD11m in cash in Nigeria at period-end, down from USD39m at end FY24, a consequence of consistent focus on remitting
cash, the impact of translating the balance at the weaker naira and the write-off of the USD21m receivable relating to the cash held with Heritage Bank before its license was revoked and the bank was liquidated,” MultiChoice said.

‘COMPANY FACING MOST CHALLENGING CONDITIONS’

Commenting on the company’s results, Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice group chief executive officer (CEO), said the company is facing its most challenging operating conditions in almost 40 years.

To generate returns, Mawela said the company has been “proactive in its focus to right-size the business for the current economic realities and industry changes”.

He said while operating across Africa “typically subjects the group to currency moves, abnormal currency weakness over the past 18 months has reduced the group’s profits by close to R7 billion”.

“Combined with the impact of a weak macro environment on consumers’ disposable income and therefore on subscriber growth, it required the Group to fundamentally adjust its cost base – which is exactly what has been done,” he said.

“We are making good progress in addressing the technical insolvency that resulted from non-cash accounting entries at the end of the last financial year.

“We expect to return to a positive net equity position by the end of November this year, supported by a number of developments and initiatives. The Group’s liquidity position remains strong, with over ZAR10bn in total available funds.”

On May 1, MultiChoice implemented an increase in subscription prices for DStv and GOtv packages — despite the tribunal ruling against it on April 25.

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NCAA to sanction pilots working for multiple airlines, says it ‘violates regulations’

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it will sanction pilots working for multiple airlines.

In a letter dated November 6, 2024, and addressed to all aircraft operators, titled ‘Prohibition of Ad-Hoc Flight Operations for Multiple Airlines,’ Chris Najomo, the NCAA acting director-general (DG), said the issue was uncovered through the aviation authority’s surveillance reports.

“It has come to the notice of the authority through our surveillance reports that licensed flight crew members utilize the privileges simulators and proficiency checks endorsed on their license to operate for multiple airlines,” the letter reads.

“The Flight Simulator Training Device/facility approved by the Authority is operator specific based on the training program and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for such an operator.”

According to Najomo, when pilots work for multiple airlines concurrently, without considering the safety implications, it creates a risk for the industry.

He informed all operators and holders of pilot licences that the action will be treated as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.

“The authority will take appropriate enforcement action on violators of this directive, effective from November 11, 2024,” he said.

The acting DG added that simulator renewals will now be directly tied to the operators.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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