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Transfers Gone Missing: Nigeria’s frustrating digital bank transactions
Zulaiha Danjuma
Imagine expecting to receive payment for the goods you sold to a customer only to find that the significant amount of money never reached your bank account. For Malam Haruna Yau, a palm oil vendor in Kano State, Nigeria, this nightmare became a reality.
KANO FOCUS reports that, despite his initial skepticism about adopting electronic bank payments for his business, Haruna decided to open a bank account to receive payments from his customers.
However, he soon faced numerous challenges with vanishing funds due to network glitches causing discrepancies between customer transactions and his received payments.
“The major problem we have is the unpredictable network issues, which can be quite frustrating when trying to receive payments from customers,” Haruna explained. “Because of these network issues, we find ourselves going back and forth with customers on payments they say they made, which don’t reflect in my account. And in some cases, the money shows up much later.”
Malam Haruna Yau
One specific challenge Haruna faced was when he lost ₦19,000 due to network issues. “Just last week, I lost about ₦19,000. A lot of customers sent me money, but I didn’t receive the payments, even my neighbor selling next to me sent me some money, same thing,” Haruna said.
Haruna added, that this was one of the reservation he had about bank transfers but he knew he could not escape using the bank for his business due to the raise of technological advancement
He went further to explain that there are a lot of small vendors who still resist having bank accounts due to the fear of vanishing bank transfers
“It’s discouraging for vendors who are not banked hearing those of us who opened bank accounts complaining of our monies vanishing within banks” he said
Hajiya Rabi’a, a women’s clothing vendor, shared a similar story. She sent ₦5,000 to her brother on two separate occasions, but the funds never reached him.
“I thought it was a one-off issue, but when it happened again, I was shocked,” Rabi’a said. “I had to pay that money thrice.” She lamented.
According to industry players, the issues with vanishing interbank instant transfers often originate from the deposit banks themselves. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has implemented measures to address these challenges, including the Industry Dispute Resolution Platform.
“The CBN has been working tirelessly to address the challenges faced by customers,” said an industry expert. “The Industry Dispute Resolution Platform is a significant step towards resolving disputes and improving the overall customer experience.”
The CBN has also directed deposit money banks to resolve instant interbank disputes within three working days. Customers have the right to report any issues to the CBN and fill out a complaint form.
In addition, the CBN’s regulation on Instant Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT services) states that all instant interbank EFTs should take place within 1 minute (60 seconds). However, despite this protocol, deposit money banks have been seen falling short of upholding this right to customers.
According to data from the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the volume of instant interbank transfers has increased significantly over the past year, with over 10 million transactions valued at over ₦10 trillion.
However, the same data also shows that the number of disputes and complaints related to untraceable funds has also increased, with over 10,000 complaints received by the CBN in the past quarter alone.
The impact of untraceable funds on individuals and businesses cannot be overstated. For Haruna, the loss of ₦19,000 was a significant blow to his business. “It’s not just about the money; it’s about the trust and confidence that customers have in the banking system,” Haruna said.
To address these challenges, the CBN has launched the Industry Dispute Resolution Platform, which is strictly for card and POS transactions. Banks have been mandated to report any single dispute to the platform.
“All banks are under obligation to report their dispute on the Industry Dispute Resolution System (IDRS) platform. This took off three months ago, so hopefully, customers should expect better services,” an industry source said.
While electronic bank payments offer convenience and efficiency, the challenges with vanishing funds cannot be ignored. As the CBN continues to work towards resolving these issues, customers must be aware of their rights and the measures in place to protect them.
_*To protect themselves from vanishing funds, customers can take the following steps:*_
– First, verify transactions with their banks
– Report any issue of bank non compliance to resolving the issue; by filling out a CBN complaint form about the banks non compliance
By taking these steps, customers can help ensure that their transactions are secure and that they receive the funds they are owed.
In the words of Haruna, “I believe that electronic bank payments are the future, but we need to address the challenges that come with it. As customers, we need our banking institutions to do better to serve us properly and protect our funds”.
_*This story is produced under the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Fellowship of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Co-Develop in partnership with Kano Focus Newspaper online*_
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hussaini Yusuf Datti, has won the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency by-election in Kano State with 23,890 votes.
KANO FOCUS reports that Datti was declared the winner by the Returning Officer, Prof. Ibrahim Tajo Sani, after polling was conducted across the constituency on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
According to the official result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Datti defeated five other candidates who contested the election.
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) candidate, Habibu Hamisu, came second with 270 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Abdullahi Adamu, secured 108 votes.
The candidate of the All Democratic Party (ADP), Bala Muhammad Sani, polled 89 votes, while Aliyu Abdullahi of the All Progressive Party (APP) received 53 votes.
The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad, secured 39 votes.
The results recorded a total of 24,449 votes across the six political parties listed on the declaration sheet.
After announcing the results, the Returning Officer declared Hussaini Yusuf Datti of the APC the winner and returned him elected, stating that he had satisfied the requirements of the law.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commenced a two-day training for 500 teachers on the use of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP).
KANO FOCUS reports that the training, which began on Saturday, is being conducted across 20 centres in the Kano metropolis as part of efforts to strengthen teachers’ capacity to use the digital learning platform.
Some participants at the training
The training centres include GGSS Gidan Makama, GGSS Dorayi Karama, GSS Gwamamaja II, GSS Babbangiji, Day Science and GGSS Dangana.
Other centres are GGSS Maryam Aloma, GGAC Goron Dutse, GGASS Gwammaja, Prof Hafsat, Mairo Tijjani and GGSS Maryam Abacha.
Some participants at the training
The remaining centres are GGSS Maryam Shekarau, GGC Kano, GGSS Masallaci Fagge, GGSS Chiranchi, First Ladies and GGSS Sabuwar Kofa.
Addressing the participants, the Deputy Director, Education Management Information System (EMIS) and Statistics and lead component for Nigeria Learning Passport in Kano, Malam Naziru Surajo, said the Nigeria Learning Passport is a digital learning platform designed to provide learners and teachers with access to curriculum-aligned educational content and support learning continuity.
Some participants at the training
He said the two-day training is expected to equip participating teachers with practical skills to access and use the platform, including navigating learning content and other available resources.
Group picture at GGSS Chiranchi Centre
According to him the exercise is being implemented by the Kano State Ministry of Education with support from UNICEF as part of efforts to strengthen the use of digital tools in teaching and learning across the state.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
KANO FOCUS reports that the Kano State Police Command, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) have monitored the ongoing Dawakin Kudu State Constituency by-election, commending voters for maintaining peaceful conduct.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, on Saturday said the monitoring exercise was conducted by the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, alongside the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC Kano State, Amb. Zango Abdu, and other members of ICCES.
The delegation visited various polling units across Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area to assess the deployment of security personnel, the conduct of INEC officials and voters’ compliance with electoral guidelines.
According to the police, the electoral process was proceeding smoothly as of the time of the report, with voters turning out in an orderly manner and security personnel maintaining neutrality and professionalism at polling locations.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner commended the security agencies, particularly the Kano State Police Command and other ICCES members, for what he described as effective coordination, professionalism and proactive measures that helped maintain a peaceful atmosphere for the election.
The Commissioner of Police, Bakori, reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order throughout the electoral process.
He assured residents that security personnel would remain deployed until the collation and announcement of the election results were concluded.
The Kano State Police Command also commended residents of Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area for their peaceful conduct and cooperation with security agencies during the exercise.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, on September 19, 2026.
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