“In 2026, Nigeria’s fintech regulators are likely to deepen support for interoperable QR and instant funds transfer at merchant points of acceptance.” – Emmanuel Ojo

Prediction

In 2026, Nigeria’s fintech regulators are likely to deepen support for interoperable QR and instant funds transfer at merchant points of acceptance. A key carrot for retailers and merchants will be lower transaction fees.

Supporting Evidence

Instant funds transfer usage at merchant acceptance points has grown by over 30% year-on-year and is accelerating. Consumers are steadily shifting to account-to-account payments, which increasingly threaten card-based transactions within merchant solutions.

Risk Factor

A regulatory pivot, such as policy changes that rebalance incentives, could slow or reverse this trajectory, encouraging a more diversified mix of payment methods. Overreliance on a single rail also raises ecosystem risk, which regulators may seek to mitigate.

Who is Emmanuel Ojo?

Emmanuel Ojo is the chief executive officer and managing director of Redtech Limited, where he leads the company’s strategic expansion into financial technology. He has over 20 years of experience across telecommunications, financial services, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and investments.

At Redtech, he has helped build out the company’s fintech and energy technology business lines, strengthening operational structures and supporting the launch of new products and services for customers in Nigeria and across Africa.

Before joining Redtech, Ojo was the chief executive officer of Chamsswich, where he led the company through a period of growth, expanding its product portfolio and upgrading its technology infrastructure.