Weekly Recap: Airtime Wahala, and Safer Instagram for Teens

Hi, Fam! It’s the weekend, and you know what that means—your quick catch-up on all the hot stories in Nigeria’s tech space. From banking drama to job opportunities and safer social media for teens, here’s everything you need to know. Let’s gist.

USSD Banking Now Needs Airtime—Not Just Your Bank Money

Starting Monday, June 3, you’ll need to load airtime before you can use USSD codes to check your balance, transfer money, or buy airtime. The banks say this new rule is from the NCC, and that you’ll be charged from your airtime, not your account.

But here’s where the drama starts. The telecom companies (like MTN, Airtel, Glo) are saying, “Wait o, don’t lie on us!” They say banks haven’t paid the huge ₦250 billion debt they owe for USSD services. And now, telcos are even threatening to stop USSD services completely. As usual, it’s the customers that suffer in the middle.

Cavista Wants to Hire More Nigerians—Using AI to Help

In better news, Cavista Technologies is looking to hire more tech talents in Nigeria. They already have over 300 software engineers, and they want to add 30% more by the end of the year. That means job opportunities are coming!

They’re also building cool stuff with artificial intelligence (AI)—like a tool that helps hospitals and health workers make faster decisions. And guess what? They believe in growing local talent, so they’re not scared of the japa trend. They’re even supporting tech events and hackathons across the country.

Instagram Now Safer for Nigerian Teens

Instagram just launched something new in Nigeria—Teen Accounts. Now, if you’re a teen, your account will be private by default. Strangers can’t message you, and your feed won’t show disturbing or violent content.

At a small event in Lagos, Meta (the company behind Instagram) said they want young people to feel safe online. Parents can also keep an eye on what their kids are doing without being too strict. It’s a smart move, especially as more young Nigerians are becoming content creators every day.

Ikeja Computer Village Gets Security Upgrade

If you’ve been to Computer Village before, you know how crazy it can get—crowds, shouting, sharp guys everywhere. But now, they’re trying to make it safer.

Traders and visitors will now register with fingerprints and face scans. They’ve also added CCTV cameras, better lighting, and security radios to fight crime. Some people are worried about privacy, but the market leaders say it’s a good step to protect everyone.

Now that you have the hot stories from Techstoriex this, which of them caught your attention the more? What do you think? Let’s us know in the comment section! Thanks for reading our stories this week.

See you next week!