Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, in collaboration with Mastercard, Tuesday announced the launch of the Mastercard prepaid card to further accelerate financial inclusion and expand access to digital payment solutions across Africa.

The card, which does not require a traditional bank account, is designed to serve individuals who have historically lacked access to formal financial services, particularly young adults, gig workers, and low-income earners. It enables users to top up funds easily, transact both locally and internationally, and manage spending with flexibility and security.

With more than 28.9 million adults in Nigeria remaining unbanked, and digital-first tools increasingly demanded by youth and freelancers, the prepaid card directly addresses pressing gaps in the financial ecosystem.

Mastercard’s Country Manager, West Africa, Dr Folasade Femi-Lawal and Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Shamsideen Fashola, during the the launch of the Mastercard Prepaid Card to further accelerate financial inclusion and expand access to digital payment solutions across Africa, held at the Bank’s headquarters in Lagos on Monday.

Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Shamsideen Fashola, who noted this is a demonstration of the bank’s customer-first approach, stated that the bank is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian is banked and gets the best service.

“This collaboration with Mastercard is yet another demonstration of our customer-first approach. We are committed to providing practical solutions that meet the everyday needs of Nigerians, and this card will make payments simpler, safer, and accessible to all”

Mastercard’s Country Manager, West Africa, Dr Folasade Femi-Lawal, said: “At Mastercard, we are relentlessly committed to advancing financial inclusion through innovative and secure digital payment solutions that serve both banked and unbanked Nigerians. Collaborating with UBA enables us to unlock endless possibilities by connecting individuals across all income levels, demographics, and social strata. Together, we are empowering Nigerians with the tools they need to confidently participate in the global economy and shape a more inclusive digital future.”

The prepaid card offers distinct benefits for different user groups. Cardholders can use it as a convenient budgeting tool; freelancers and gig workers gain a flexible expense solution; and the unbanked are empowered through a secure, reloadable allowance card. The product is globally accepted and supported by Mastercard’s trusted infrastructure, providing users with peace of mind and seamless digital payment experiences.

This collaboration aims to pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable financial future in Africa, by striving to break down long-standing barriers, enable underserved communities, and advance economic growth.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is a leading pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than 45 million customers across 20 African countries, as well as in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates. With a strong focus on innovation, financial inclusion, and customer service, UBA provides retail, commercial, and institutional banking solutions, empowering individuals, businesses, and governments through cutting-edge digital platforms and inclusive financial products.

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared that his administration has achieved its annual revenue target ahead of schedule, driven largely by non-oil income, and will no longer resort to borrowing from domestic banks.

Speaking at the State House while hosting a delegation of The Buhari Organization (TBO), made up of members of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) led by former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Tinubu said the country’s economy has stabilised.

“There is a guarantee that I know. Many of you had to suffer the initial abuse and the fear of where we were going. But today, I can brag that Nigeria is no longer borrowing a dime from local banks,” the President said.

He disclosed that the Federal Government had met its entire 2025 revenue target by August, stressing that the achievement was an indication of strong performance in non-oil revenue collection.

“What we need now is to create jobs for the people. I have just signed up for a huge mechanisation programme, with centres in every region, to drive agricultural production and ensure food security. If we remove hunger, we defeat poverty,” Tinubu added.

The President commended CPC stalwarts who have remained with the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite not securing appointments, promising to accommodate them in ambassadorial positions.

Reaffirming his commitment to continue the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu told his visitors not to be intimidated ahead of the 2027 elections. “Don’t let anybody threaten you with uncertainty. The path to Nigeria’s recovery is clear, and we are confident of success,” he said.

Earlier, Al-Makura pledged the CPC bloc’s loyalty to the President, assuring that the group would mobilise nationwide to secure APC’s victory in 2027. “We are with you in loyalty, in person, and in purpose,” he said.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was part of the delegation, also reaffirmed the bloc’s solidarity. He dismissed claims of disunity within the CPC family, insisting that over 90 percent of its pioneer leaders remained committed to Tinubu’s leadership.

The visit was attended by several prominent CPC members, including former ministers, party executives, and stalwarts of the Buhari Support Organisation.

The Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has called for former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to be questioned over his claim that the Federal Government is paying bandits.

Baba-Ahmed, who spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, faulted the response of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, which dismissed El-Rufai’s allegation as baseless.

“If the so-called office of the National Security Adviser would take this statement with levity, then Nuhu Ribadu was never a policeman; he is not a qualified lawyer; he should not be in that office,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He insisted that El-Rufai’s claim was too serious to be brushed aside. “Nasir should be writing some statements to the police, to the courts,” he added.

On Sunday, El-Rufai had alleged that both the Federal Government and Kaduna State were paying monthly allowances to bandits and providing them with food under what he described as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy. He maintained that such an approach was only empowering criminals.

The NSA and Kaduna State Government have both denied the claim, but Baba-Ahmed argued that the denial was insufficient. “That is not a reaction. Are people understanding the gravity of this statement?” he asked.

The LP chieftain said any declaration of such magnitude amounted to a national policy, which, if true, would require open government communication. “A national policy is the official position of a government; an official declaration that this is what we shall be constitutionally doing,” he said. “Was such a thing held? Why did Nasir say it?”

El-Rufai, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has in recent weeks been vocal about insecurity in Nigeria, drawing strong reactions from both government officials and opposition figures.