The rising cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) around the world and in Nigeria, in particular, are redefining how we live our lives and run businesses. Most countries are already on lockdown and in Nigeria, state governments are shutting down operations while most private businesses have adopted work from home policies for most of their staff. 

Lagos and two other states in Nigeria are now officially on lockdown, to describe this as strange is to state the obvious. Even churches and Mosques have been forced to close their doors to worshippers and most churches resolved to provide online services for their teeming members to worship. 

The new approach to safety is to practice what is now referred to as social distancing, which prescribes you avoid contact with other individuals as much as possible. No more handshakes or hugs, sanitize your hands as soon as you touch public surfaces such as door handles or use public facilities like the ATM machines and if possible, avoid touching any of those. 

This has extended to the way we transact business, as people must avoid the ever-crowded shopping malls or markets that may make such contacts inevitable. Handling cash has also been identified as a potent means to spread this dreaded virus, cash can therefore no longer be kings as they describe it in Nigeria

This is no doubt a new reality Nigerians are needing to cope with. Our ways of doing things have to change and the need to accept and relocate to the digital world is no longer negotiable. Now we have to rely on mobile money payment solutions to live our lives effectively and of course, seamlessly. Mobile money payment platforms provide opportunities to buy and pay for products and services without having physical contact with the seller. These platforms afford you the opportunity to transfer money to friends and relatives in need (considering the peculiarities of the time) and also help you to pay your utility bills while isolating yourself from the rest of the world.

Mobile payments platforms like Paga

have obviously risen to the challenges and the inherent needs of the nation in times like this. The company’s founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Tayo Oviosu had recently announced the company’s adjustment to its fee in an attempt to reduce the spread of the pandemic. “For many years, Nigerians have been using Paga’s free money transfer service; It enables customers to send money for free to anyone using the recipient’s phone number or email address instead of a bank account. We expect to see an increase in more Nigerians using this service and we will keep it free to them. We are determined to help make life easier for Nigerians especially at this time” Furthermore, during this time, Merchants and small businesses can save on transaction fees by accepting payments with Paga for Zero fees.. In addition, customers sending money to bank accounts also enjoy free money transfers for amounts below N5,000.

Not only is this responsive to the needs of Nigerians at the moment, but it is also magnanimous as Paga is not using the obvious opportunity to extort Nigerians by hiking its charges at this time. Businesses may be shutting down in Nigeria due to the fear of the COVID-19, remote operation remains the surest way for businesses to keep offering their services and mobile payments keep life going in spite of the lockdown.

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