WhatsApp is rolling out a major privacy update that will allow Nigerians and users worldwide to use the app without needing to share their phone numbers, by introducing unique usernames for login and communication. This new feature, currently in beta testing, promises enhanced privacy and safer interactions starting late 2025. Owned by Meta, WhatsApp serves over two billion users globally and has long required a phone number for account registration and messaging. However, recent beta versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS show the introduction of unique usernames, enabling users to create personalised handles as an alternative to phone numbers. Through these usernames, users can chat and join groups without revealing their personal phone numbers. The username system allows users to register handles made up of lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. While the username reservation feature is available now in WhatsApp’s beta version, the full rollout is anticipated in the coming weeks or months after further verification and conflict prevention measures are tested. In the past, many WhatsApp users have expressed concern over exposing their personal phone numbers to businesses, unknown contacts, or potential spammers during group interactions. Given Nigeria’s large WhatsApp user base, estimated at over 100 million mobile internet users relying heavily on messaging apps for personal and business communication, this change could reduce the risk of phone number misuse and identity exposure to scammers. WhatsApp has not yet announced an exact date for the nationwide rollout in Nigeria, but the beta testing’s positive reception suggests the feature will arrive soon after completion of necessary adjustments. Users can already reserve usernames via the beta app settings to secure their preferred handles ahead of the official launch.
IG suspends enforcement of tinted glass law pending court hearing
The Inspector-General of Police (IG) has temporarily suspended the enforcement of the controversial tinted glass law across Nigeria, following legal challenges and public concerns. The suspension is effective until after the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, hears a scheduled motion on October 16, 2025. According to Police spokesperson Frank Mba, the suspension was instituted “out of consideration for the interest of Nigerians and regard for the Nigerian Bar Association.” Though no formal court order currently bars the enforcement, the police have paused operations to await judicial guidance on the matter. This decision came in response to petitions disputing the legitimacy and application of the tinted glass regulation, which restricts the level of window tint allowed on vehicles. The tinted glass law, introduced to enhance road safety by improving driver visibility and aiding law enforcement in vehicle inspections, has sparked controversy. Many Nigerians, including drivers and legal experts, questioned its enforcement methods and the extent of compliance. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has actively engaged in challenging aspects of the law, citing concerns for due process and citizens’ rights. This suspension marks a critical pause for Nigeria’s transport sector and motorists who have faced penalties under the tinted glass regulation since its implementation. Experts note that the government’s cautious approach may help prevent a wider confrontation while awaiting the court’s decision. Aviation and law enforcement analysts point out that clarity from the court will be crucial in balancing vehicle regulation with citizens’ freedoms. The ruling could set precedents not only for tinted glass enforcement but also for how similar regulations are applied nationally.
FTSE Russell adds Nigeria to watch list for possible Frontier Market reclassification
Global index provider FTSE Russell has added Nigeria to its Watch List for a potential upgrade from Unclassified to Frontier Market status, following improvements in the country’s foreign exchange market and capital market reforms. This move, announced in October 2025, reflects growing international confidence in Nigeria’s market stability and regulatory environment. The addition to the Watch List comes two years after Nigeria was removed from all FTSE global indices in 2023 due to severe foreign exchange (FX) shortages and delays that prevented foreign investors from repatriating capital. Since early 2025, however, Nigerian authorities, led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have implemented key reforms including exchange rate unification, FX backlog clearance, and enhanced market liquidity management. These changes have largely eliminated FX queues and improved transparency, according to reports from investors and FTSE Russell. FTSE Russell’s semi-annual Country Classification Review noted that Nigeria now meets the five Quality of Markets (QoM) criteria required to regain Frontier Market status, including regulatory oversight, market transparency, and clearing and settlement systems. Despite this progress, the review also shows ongoing challenges such as limited FX availability, high transaction costs, and restricted development of derivatives markets. But Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), described the Watch List inclusion as “a testament to coordinated policy reforms and renewed investor optimism.” He added, “The recent reforms in the foreign exchange market, fiscal policy, and ease of doing business have collectively helped restore investor confidence and address key structural constraints.” This development holds significant implications for Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and broader economy. Reclassification to Frontier Market status would likely attract substantial foreign portfolio inflows from institutional investors and passive funds benchmarked to FTSE indices, boosting liquidity and access to growth capital for Nigerian startups, particularly in fintech and digital innovation sectors. According to FTSE Russell, the Watch List status allows for ongoing “in-depth engagement” with Nigerian authorities and market participants ahead of a final reclassification decision scheduled for the next review cycle. The outcome will depend on maintaining FX stability, predictable capital repatriation timelines, and verified sustainability of reforms. As FTSE Russell continues its evaluation, Nigeria stands at a crucial juncture whereby a successful reclassification would mark a major milestone in restoring foreign investor confidence and accelerating the country’s digital economy and capital market development.
SEC warns Nigerians against investing in AfriQuantumX, citing Ponzi scheme risks
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria has issued a public warning to Nigerians to desist from investing in AfriQuantumX, an online platform claiming to trade cryptocurrency and stocks, due to its unregistered status and features resembling a fraudulent Ponzi scheme. In a statement released on October 7, 2025, the SEC clarified that AfriQuantumX is not registered to operate in Nigeria’s capital market or solicit investments from the public. “Investigations have revealed that AfriQuantumX has been actively promoted on social media platforms and online forums. Furthermore, its operations exhibit characteristics commonly associated with fraudulent Ponzi schemes,” the regulatory body said. The SEC cautioned that any individuals investing or engaging with AfriQuantumX do so at their own risk, warning of potential financial loss. This warning continues a trend by the SEC to protect Nigerian investors from unregulated online investment schemes. Earlier in 2025, the commission flagged several similar platforms, including Risevest, Pro-vest, PWAN MAX, and Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society, all of which lacked proper registration and showed signs of fraud or risky operations. According to the SEC, dealing with unregistered entities exposes investors to risks such as fraud and the total loss of funds without legal recourse. The SEC urged Nigerians to always verify the registration status of any company offering investment opportunities by consulting its official portal at www.sec.gov.ng/cmos before investing. This verification procedure is crucial amid the growing popularity of online investment platforms in Nigeria, where many unregulated operators exploit the populace’s appetite for cryptocurrencies and easy returns. For Nigeria’s growing tech-savvy investor population, the AfriQuantumX warning underscores the importance of regulatory oversight in fostering a secure digital investment environment. With increasing fintech adoption and digital asset interest across Africa, safeguarding investment integrity is essential to maintaining investor confidence and supporting sustainable market growth. The SEC’s intervention serves as a timely reminder that the allure of highreturns from unregulated platforms often masks underlying risks. Nigerian investors are advised to exercise due diligence and prioritize platforms endorsed and supervised by regulatory authorities. As digital investment trends evolve, regulators and market participants will continue to grapple with emerging threats, highlighting the need for enhanced public education and technology-enabled oversight to protect Nigeria’s vibrant investment ecosystem. The SEC’s warning on AfriQuantumX marks another step in its commitment to shielding investors from fraudulent schemes in Nigeria’s capital market.
Google expands AI app builder Opal to 15 countries, Nigeria yet to join
Google has rolled out its experimental AI app-building tool, Opal, to 15 additional countries as of October 2025, offering non-technical creators a simple way to build mini web apps using natural language prompts. However, Nigeria is notably absent from this expansion list. Originally launched in the United States in July 2025, Opal enables users to create, edit, and share AI-powered mini-applications without coding skills. Users describe the app they want, then Opal generates a functional prototype with editable visual workflows. The newly added countries include Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, Singapore, Colombia, several Central American nations, Argentina, and Pakistan, according to Google’s official announcement. Megan Li, Senior Product Manager at Google Labs, expressed surprise at the sophistication of apps created by early adopters, stating, “We didn’t expect the surge of sophisticated, practical and highly creative Opal apps we got instead. The ingenuity of these early adopters made one thing clear: we need to get Opal into the hands of more creators globally”. Opal’s no-code approach, coupled with a visual editor that enables step-by-step debugging and customization, aims to democratize app development by supporting creators without technical backgrounds. Users can also publish their apps online and share them with others to test. The platform complements Google’s broader AI developer ecosystem, which includes offerings like Gemini Code Assist, an AI-powered coding assistant available in Nigeria that helps developers with code generation and review. Despite Nigeria’s vibrant and rapidly growing tech ecosystem – with over 500,000 developers and a strong focus on AI innovation – Opal has not yet been launched locally. This contrasts with Google’s recent investments in Nigeria, such as the “Build with AI” training program developed in partnership with GOMYCODE to empower 1,000 Nigerian developers with generative AI skills. For Nigeria, gaining access to tools like Opal could further accelerate digital innovation by enabling a broader segment of creators, startups, and enterprises to develop functional AI applications without deep programming expertise. The absence of Opal in Nigeria highlights the nuanced pace of global tech expansion and suggests a potential opportunity for Google to address local demand for accessible AI tools. As AI and no-code platforms gain traction worldwide, Nigeria’s tech community remains poised to adopt such innovations, bolstered by growing government and corporate support. Google’s Opal expansion marks a significant milestone in democratizing app creation, and a Nigerian launch would likely be met with enthusiasm from the nation’s burgeoning tech talent pool.
Lagos retains IKEDC and EKEDC as licensed DisCos amid power sector shake-up
Lagos State has confirmed the continued licensing of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Electric Distribution Company (EKEDC) as the official electricity distributors serving the region, solidifying their position amid ongoing power sector reforms in Nigeria. The Ministry of Energy, confirming the licenses this week, emphasised the crucial role both IKEDC and EKEDC play in ensuring reliable electricity supply to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub and most populous state. This decision follows recent reviews of the distribution company (DisCo) operations across Nigeria to boost efficiency and service delivery. IKEDC and EKEDC are responsible for power distribution to Lagos’s millions of residents and businesses, handling a consumer base that represents one of the largest electricity markets in Africa. Lagos’s dense population, economic activities, and rapid urbanisation have made consistent electricity supply a top priority for state authorities. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), these two DisCos collectively serve over 5 million customers, covering roughly 90% of the state’s power consumers. Energy experts have welcomed the move, noting that maintaining licensed, experienced DisCos is vital to improving service standards. Dr. Ayo Adekunle, an energy analyst based in Lagos, told Daily Tech Nigeria, “The decision to keep IKEDC and EKEDC licensed reflects confidence in their continued ability to manage complex urban power distribution. However, ongoing infrastructure upgrades and customer service improvements are needed to meet Lagosians’ growing energy demands.” This license confirmation coincides with the Federal Government’s broader power sector reforms aimed at addressing distribution inefficiencies, reducing technical losses, and tackling revenue collection challenges that have long plagued Nigeria’s electricity market. IKEDC and EKEDC have both announced recent initiatives to deploy smart meters and enhance grid infrastructure, signaling alignment with national efforts to modernise electricity distribution. For Nigerians and businesses in Lagos, the licensing stability offers some assurance amid concerns over erratic power supply, frequent outages, and escalating electricity tariffs. As Nigeria’s economy increasingly depends on reliable power, effective distribution will continue to shape productivity and living standards.