CBN grants Airtel Africa approval for super agent

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted Airtel Mobile Commerce Nigeria Ltd., a subsidiary of Airtel Africa, approval in principle to operate as a super agent.

This is contained in a notice signed by the Group Company Secretary, Airtel Africa, Simon O’Hara; and posted on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Ltd. website on Monday, November 15, in Lagos.

According to the notice, the super agent licence is distinct from the Payment Service Bank (PSB) licence; for which the company received approval in principle on Nov. 4.

It said the PSB licence was required for Airtel to be able to provide financial services in Nigeria.

The notice listed the services as cash deposits; payments and remittances; issuing debit and prepaid cards; electronic wallets; and other financial services.

“Under the super agent licence, we would be able to create an agent network that can service the customers of licensed Nigerian banks, payment service banks and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria,” said the notice.

It said the final approval of the super-agent licence was subject to the group satisfying certain standard conditions.

Meanwhile, ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has stated that the direct primary process passed by the National Assembly as the best for political parties if properly done.

Saraki made this call in Ilorin on Saturday, November 13, on the sidelines of the 9th memorial prayer for his late father, Olusola Abubakar Saraki, held at the family’s residence, Iloffa Road GRA, Ilorin.

He, however, warned that the controversy generated by the passage of the direct primary process must not be allowed to scuttle the electoral bill.

Saraki said “the most important thing is for President Muhammadu Buhari to assent the electoral bill for Nigerians to benefit from its other parts.

“Direct primary is best for political parties if properly done. But I am sure Nigerians are not prepared for it; because there is still a lot of work to be done.

“But now that the National Assembly has passed it, we should make the best out of the situation; rather than allowing the controversy on one item to throw away the other good parts of the bill,” Saraki added.