Good morning. 
We know how food delivery startups and courier services created jobs by hiring riders, often as a business process outsourcing play. Now the question is whether machines can take their place.
Yesterday, Robomart, a US startup, launched its RM5 robot to deliver goods for a flat $3 fee, cheaper than Uber Eats and DoorDash. I watched a vlog of a rider completing more than 10 deliveries in one day, which made me wonder how much faster a machine could do the same. Customers probably wonât mind, as long as their packages arrive sooner and cost less.
In other news, keep an eye out for another edition of our newsletter, The Next Wave: Francophone Africa, going up today to stay abreast of all the headlines and trends making the rounds in that region. If you havenât subscribed yet, hereâs another cue for you.
Subscribe to TNW: Francophone Africa so you donât miss a beat.
Regulation
NDPC targets over 1,300 Nigerian firms for data privacy violations
Nigeriaâs Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is on the lookout for some unlucky scapegoatsâ1,369 of them to be precise. According to a statement on Monday, the countryâs data protection watchdog has commenced a probe into 1,369 Nigerian companies over suspected violations of data privacy regulations.Â
ICYMI: The Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) was enacted in 2023 to safeguard Nigeriaâs data sovereignty. For the past two years, the NDPC has been patient with violators, using a âremediationâ approach to warn companies of violations instead of abruptly imposing penalties. But in July, things changed. It slammed MultiChoice, the pay TV giant, with a âŠ766.2 million fine ($498,000) for violations after repeated warnings.Â
State of play: The targeted companies in the latest regulatory clampdown include 795 financial institutions, 392 insurance brokers, 35 insurance companies, 10 pension companies, and 136 gaming firms. NDPC is giving them three weeks to prove they have appointed Data Protection Officers, filed their 2024 compliance audits, and implemented proper data protection measures. Companies that fail this test will likely join MultiChoice in learning expensive lessons about regulatory compliance.Â
Zoom out: The mass investigation shows NDPCâs move into serious enforcement with real financial consequences. The NDPC believes that responsible use of personal data is vital to ensure the country can become a digital economy leader in regional and global markets. All eyes will be on whether this move genuinely improves compliance or just becomes another excuse for regulators to squeeze more money through questionable fines.Â
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Banking
Premium Trust Bank raises $131 million to meet CBN recapitalisation requirement
Premium Trust Bank, a Nigerian mid-tier lender launched in 2022, has raised âŠ200 billion ($131 million) in line with the Central Bankâs capital requirement for national banks. The lender pulled this off with seven months to spare, joining the likes of fellow mid-tier banks Wema and Stanbic IBTC, which have also raised the sum.
How did Premium Trust Bank pull it off? It raised the funds through a mix of rights issueânew shares are sold to existing shareholdersâand private placements, selling shares directly to select investors instead of the public.
Catch up: In 2024, Nigeriaâs Central Bank announced a recapitalisation exercise requiring international banks to raise a minimum of âŠ500 billion ($328 million), national banks to raise âŠ200 billion ($131 million), and regional banks to raise âŠ50 billion ($33 million), in a bid to strengthen the banking sector.
Between the lines: So far, only Access Bank and Zenith Bank have successfully raised the required capital among the tier-1 lenders. GTBank is preparing another round of capital raise following its dual listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). UBA is currently raising additional funds, while First Bank is expected to finalise its recapitalisation exercise before the deadline.
State of play: Since its launch, Premium Trust Bank has been aggressively expanding, opening 26 branches across 14 Nigerian states. It has plans to move into the Southeast while also doubling down on its small and medium enterprise (SME) banking strategy.
The bank is also dealing with controversy: it is currently in court after a staff member and external collaborators allegedly conspired to steal $10,000 from a customer account.
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Startups
DigiTax expands into Nigeria with new country director
Nigeriaâs tax system is entering a digital chapter, and DigiTax, a Kenyan e-invoicing and tax compliance startup, wants to be at the centre of it.Â
Nigeriaâs taxman, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has now cleared the platform as an Access Point Provider (APP) and System Integrator (SI) for its e-invoicing system under the newly launched e-invoicing solution, the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS) platform.
Translation: DigiTax can now connect companies directly to the new government-backed e-invoicing structure.
What exactly is DigiTax? With operating licenses in Kenya and Zambia, DigiTax validates invoices in real-time and keeps them in line with FIRS regulations, while protecting sensitive financial data. The platform already supports over 800 businesses across Africa, helping process invoices worth more than $10 billion. The platform has built a reputation as the compliance partner for companies juggling complex financial systems. And now, itâs bringing that playbook to Nigeria, with Olumide Akinsola leading the charge as the country director.
The resume: With nearly 20 years of experience in growing and scaling tech businesses across Africa, Olumide Akinsola will be steering DigiTaxâs Nigerian operations. He is notable for helping build the ticketing platform, QuickBus, up until its acquisition in April 2024.
Why should you care? Tax compliance is no longer optional. By plugging directly into FIRSâ system, DigiTax could cut out manual errors and delays that cost businesses time and revenue. Itâs a win-win for both sides of the tax table if this works out as promised.
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Policy
Somalia joins the cybercrime fight
Hereâs the tea
: Last week, the countryâs council of ministers approved a new cybercrime Bill presented by the Ministry of Communications and Technology.
Whatâs inside this bill? This bill targets the unlawful use of computer systems, hacking, fraud, and shady online activities. It also includes penalties for breaking such laws and gives law enforcement a proper legal framework to track and prosecute offenders.
Why now? With over 5 million internet users as of 2024, Somaliaâs internet penetration rate has contributed to the rise in its cyber-related crimes. The first quarter of 2024 saw a 27% jump in piracy from the previous year. In June, a report by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) revealed that cybercrime accounted for over 30% of reported crime in Western and Eastern Africa. Somalia is trying to keep pace with global digital governance while building its own home capacity.
This bill comes after Somalia signed two agreements with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and Cyber Security Malaysia. These deals focus on joint efforts to improve digital regulations and tackle cybercrime.Â
With this bill, Somalia is saying: no more free pass for hackers or fraudsters. It signals the countryâs readiness for growth in its digital economy. How well this bill will be enforced is still a test for Somaliaâ drafting rules is one thing, but implementing them is another.
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CRYPTO TRACKER
The World Wide Web3
Source:
|
Coin Name |
Current Value |
Day |
Month |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bitcoin |
$110,167 |
â 2.09% |
â 6.87% |
| Ether |
$4,435 |
â 6.11% |
+ 16.84% |
| Spark |
$0.0676 |
â 6.29% |
â 33.95% |
| Solana |
$188.86 |
â 7.71% |
+ 0.52% |
* Data as of 06.45 PM WAT, August 26, 2025.
Opportunities
- Nithio is offering $50,000â$500,000 in flexible financing to clean energy startups in Kenya and Nigeria. Eligible companies include solar home system providers, clean cooking ventures, and businesses selling appliances like solar fridges or mills. Applications open on July 21; learn more.
- SheScales Africa â Investment Readiness Program for Female Founders: SheScales Africa is a 6-week, high-impact investment readiness program designed to help tech-enabled African female founders become truly fundable in a landscape where women-led startups receive less than 2% of VC funding in Africa. Through expert-led masterclasses, pitch deck and financial model support, targeted coaching, and an exclusive Demo Day with venture capitalists and angel investors actively deploying capital, the program equips founders with the tools, networks, and investor access they need to raise successfully. Apply here.
- Africaâs venture scene takes the spotlight at the Lagos Venture Finance Summit on September 5th, 2025. Hosted by Vencapital, the Summit gathers top LPs, GPs, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders for high-level conversations, networking, and dealmakingâa must-attend for those shaping Africaâs next wave of venture capital. Register to attend.
Written by: Emmanuel Nwosu, Opeyemi Kareem, and Ifeoluwa Aigbiniode
Edited by: Ganiu Oloruntade
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