Nigeria News (Standard)
Lagos SMEs Embrace Oloja Platform as Over 37 Million Businesses Seek Digital Upgrade
Payxy-backed Oloja offers free online store, inventory, and payment tools; SMEDAN hails move to boost commerce
Payxy-backed Oloja offers free online store, inventory, and payment tools; SMEDAN hails move to boost commerce
Thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lagos and across Nigeria are rapidly adopting Oloja, a digital commerce platform developed by Payxy, as the push for accessible online business management gathers momentum. The platform, launched in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), became available nationwide on Tuesday, offering business owners an integrated dashboard to manage sales, payments, inventory, and reporting at zero upfront cost.
Oloja is designed to address persistent challenges faced by Nigeria’s over 37 million MSMEs—including those in fashion, electronics, food, and consumer goods—who often depend on informal systems like WhatsApp messaging and manual inventory tracking. The platform provides a branded digital storefront, secure Payxy-powered payment links that eliminate fake alerts, real-time inventory monitoring with low-stock notifications, order management tools, and automated business intelligence reports. Merchants can onboard within three minutes without needing a developer or website.
Nigeria’s digital payments sector has expanded significantly in recent years, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but many small businesses have been left out due to lack of affordable digital tools. The MSME sector contributes nearly 50 percent of national GDP and accounts for about 80 percent of employment nationwide. Yet most merchants still rely on basic bank transfers and informal processes that limit their growth potential.
SMEDAN described the Oloja initiative as a critical step towards financial inclusion and economic formalisation for Nigerian entrepreneurs. “With this partnership, we aim to empower millions of local businesses to compete like big brands,” an official statement from SMEDAN noted on Tuesday. Industry analysts have also welcomed the solution as a locally-built alternative to expensive foreign e-commerce software.
Oloja charges no setup or monthly fees; transaction fees apply only when merchants make sales. Business owners who sign up receive a free business account in their company name—removing barriers created by traditional banking requirements. Stakeholders say if even a fraction of MSMEs adopt structured digital platforms like Oloja, it could drive significant gains in commerce efficiency and financial transparency across Nigeria’s economy.
The platform is now live at oloja.africa. As more SMEs seek sustainable ways to scale their operations online without heavy investment, Payxy and SMEDAN have urged entrepreneurs nationwide to take advantage of the free service.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Rivers: Road Accident Claims Lives of Two WAEC Candidates, Okada Rider in Port Harcourt
Students returning from Odoha Community Secondary School after WAEC exams killed as motorcycle collides with truck near Choba Bridge
Students returning from Odoha Community Secondary School after WAEC exams killed as motorcycle collides with truck near Choba Bridge
A fatal accident along Choba Bridge on the East–West Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, claimed the lives of two female students writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and a commercial motorcyclist on Wednesday. The incident occurred as the students were returning home from their examination centre at Odoha Community Secondary School in Emohua Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses reported that the students boarded motorcycles after their exam session and were heading home when their bike collided with a moving truck on the busy stretch of road. All three victims—the Okada rider and two schoolgirls—were confirmed dead at the scene. The tragic event has thrown the local community into mourning, especially as it involved students who had just concluded a crucial examination.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is currently conducting its annual WASSCE nationwide, a period often marked by increased travel for candidates between their homes and designated exam centres. The loss of these students highlights ongoing safety concerns on major roads in Rivers State and across Nigeria, particularly for young people relying on commercial motorcycles for transportation.
Authorities in Rivers State are yet to issue an official statement regarding the crash as at press time. Efforts to reach representatives of WAEC for comment were unsuccessful. Road safety advocates have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved road infrastructure around educational institutions to prevent such tragedies.
Community leaders and parents are urging government to take urgent action to enhance road safety near schools, especially during national examinations. Stakeholders emphasise that safeguarding the lives of students must remain a priority as thousands continue to participate in WASSCE across the country.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Gunmen Kill Two Vigilantes in Late-Night Attack on Plateau’s Riyom LGA
Incident sparks fresh security concerns as Ta-Hoss community mourns; police yet to identify attackers behind Wednesday assault
Incident sparks fresh security concerns as Ta-Hoss community mourns; police yet to identify attackers behind Wednesday assault
Two members of a local vigilante group were killed during a late-night attack by unknown armed men in Ta-Hoss community, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Wednesday. The incident, which occurred around 10 p.m., has left residents in shock and heightened anxiety over persistent insecurity in the North-Central state.
The deceased vigilantes, identified as Davou Dalyop Patu, aged 48, and Dalyop Zaram, aged 38, were said to be on routine patrol duty when the assailants struck. According to local accounts, the attack happened swiftly as the vigilantes carried out their responsibilities safeguarding the area. Community members expressed fear that insecurity may worsen if immediate action is not taken.
Plateau State has faced repeated incidents of violence in recent months, particularly across rural LGAs like Riyom. Residents say local security outfits have become critical to community protection amid ongoing attacks. The latest killings have renewed calls for improved government response and collaboration between state authorities and grassroots security groups.
As at press time, neither the Plateau State Police Command nor Governor Caleb Muftwang had issued an official statement regarding the incident. Efforts to reach security agencies for comment were unsuccessful. The identities and motives of the attackers remain unknown.
Community leaders are urging swift investigation and deployment of additional security personnel to Ta-Hoss and surrounding villages. Stakeholders warn that failure to address these attacks could further destabilise farming communities ahead of the rainy season.
Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/two-vigilantes-killed-in-fresh-plateau-attack/
Nigeria News (Standard)
Zamfara Police Rescue Abducted Travellers After Gun Battle on Anka–Bukuyum Highway
Bandits abandon victims and flee into forest as police respond to intelligence on Zamfara road attacks
Bandits abandon victims and flee into forest as police respond to intelligence on Zamfara road attacks
Operatives of the Zamfara State Police Command have rescued several travellers abducted by armed men along the Anka–Bukuyum highway following a fierce exchange of gunfire on Tuesday evening. The operation, carried out on June 10, was launched after police received actionable intelligence regarding the activities and movement of bandits in the area.
According to security sources cited by analyst Zagazola Makama, police operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene and engaged the criminals in a gun duel. Overwhelmed by the security response, the bandits abandoned their captives and retreated into nearby forested areas, leaving the rescued victims behind.
The Anka–Bukuyum axis in Zamfara has been a hotspot for bandit attacks targeting travellers and residents in recent months, contributing to growing insecurity across North-West geopolitical zone. Many communities in Zamfara have experienced repeated incidents of abductions and violence, raising concerns among stakeholders about safe movement along major routes.
While official figures on the number of rescued victims were not immediately disclosed, security analyst Makama stated that the police acted on credible information that enabled them to intercept the armed men before they could relocate their hostages. As at press time, there were no reports of casualties from either side during the confrontation.
Efforts to reach Zamfara State Police Command’s spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful. The state government has previously pledged to strengthen collaboration with security agencies to address recurring attacks on highways and rural communities. Meanwhile, local residents are calling for increased patrols and surveillance along major roads to safeguard commuters from further incidents.
Rivers: Road Accident Claims Lives of Two WAEC Candidates, Okada Rider in Port Harcourt
Gunmen Kill Two Vigilantes in Late-Night Attack on Plateau’s Riyom LGA
Zamfara Police Rescue Abducted Travellers After Gun Battle on Anka–Bukuyum Highway
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