₦airaland Forum

If you run a business in Nigeria today, you’ve probably thought about building a mobile app.
Whether it’s for selling products, offering services, or improving customer experience, apps are now one of the most powerful tools for growth in 2025.

But here’s the truth…
Many Nigerian businesses spend millions on app development, only to end up with an app nobody uses.

From my experience in web and mobile app development, here are the Top 5 Mistakes I’ve seen Nigerian businesses make and how you can avoid them.

1. No Clear Business Goal
Jumping into app development without knowing exactly why is a recipe for disaster.
An app without a purpose is like a shop with no signboard; people might enter, but they won’t know why they’re there.

2. Poor User Experience (UX)
If your app is slow, confusing, or difficult to navigate, Nigerians will uninstall it faster than you can say “data bundle.”
Great UX = Simple navigation, fast loading, and clean design.

3. Ignoring Local Market Needs
An app that works abroad might fail here if it doesn’t consider:

Internet speed & stability

Local payment methods (Flutterwave, Paystack, bank transfers)

Data-friendly design for cheaper usage

Phones with lower memory/processing power

4. Skipping Proper Testing
Launching without testing is like opening a restaurant without tasting your food.
Your app must work perfectly on:

Android & iOS devices

Different internet speeds

All features (login, checkout, payments)

5 No Maintenance Plan
An app is like a car; without servicing, it will break down.
You need regular updates, bug fixes, and security patches to keep it running.

💡 How to Avoid These Mistakes
Collaborate with a team that combines expertise in technology and the Nigerian market.

At CrazyDev Studios, we create mobile & web apps that are:
✅ Fast
✅ Affordable
✅ Beautiful
✅ User-focused

📩 Let’s talk: Click here to chat on WhatsApp
🌐 Website: Visit CrazyDev Studios

Hello everyone,

I'm currently building a mobile app with crypto features, specifically allowing users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies (e.g., BTC, USDT, ETH) using Naira.

I'm looking for the best API providers that are:- Reliable in Nigeria- Offer fiat-to-crypto (NGN to BTC/USDT and vice versa) - Have low fees or reasonable exchange rates - Provide a developer - friendly API for integration into mobile apps (React Native/Flutter)

I’ve explored options like Roqqu, Yellow Card, Transak, and Bitnob, but I’d love to hear from fellow developers or users who have real experience with these or better alternatives.

✅ Which platform do you recommend for seamless crypto integration in Nigeria?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Okay boss

nicho450:
Check my signature

Hello Nairalanders,

I’m working on a mobile app and looking for a reliable and efficient way to automate VTU data sharing. So far, the only method I know and have tried is USSD, but it’s not always reliable. I’d love to handle the process myself rather than relying on third-party VTU providers, as most of them have been inconsistent in my experience.

I know there are better solutions out there, and I’d really appreciate insights from anyone who has successfully automated VTU data distribution. Are there trusted APIs or direct telecom integrations that can make this seamless?

If you’ve done something similar or know a reliable approach, please share your knowledge. I’d be grateful for any guidance or recommendations!

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to learning from you.

Hello Nairalanders,

I’m working on a mobile app and looking for a reliable way to automate VTU data sharing. So far, the only method I’m familiar with is using USSD, but I’ve found it unreliable. I would prefer to handle the process myself rather than relying on third-party VTU providers, as my experience with them hasn’t been consistent.

I’d really appreciate any advice from those who have successfully automated VTU data distribution. Are there reliable APIs or direct telecom integrations that can help achieve this? Any guidance or recommendations would be highly valuable.

Looking forward to learning from your experiences. Thank you in advance!

No, still on it

Emmanuelagwu89:
Please were you able to find a solution. I am having the same issue.

Not yet

Goodiman:
Were you able to resolve this? I'm having the same issue.

I've tried several dollar virtual cards, but do they even accept Nigerian debit cards?

pneumaticos:
It's the card
But you need do some trials

First one
Are you using a Nigerian card or foreign card

Is the card enabled for international transactions

Okay, thanks. But do you mean their naira or dollar card, and when was the last time you used it?

babablogger:
use Providus debit card

Thank you so much for your feedback; I truly appreciate it. Regarding the project, we’re getting very close to launching. I’ll keep you updated here as things progress.

bassdow:
So long you rely on other Licensed operators e.g FirstBank, Zenith Bank, FlutterWave, etc; you need no license.
And that's because, you not really in charge of those transactions. Even if you go to CBN, they wouldn't have any license to give because you not an operator.

Don't worry, I'm very sure because we have handled projects similar to oPay and MoniePoint long before oPay was even born. Just the owners didn't have clear goal in mind.

Hey everyone,

I’m having trouble adding my billing information to the Google Cloud Console to enable Firebase Functions. I’ve tried using different payment methods, including Nigerian debit cards and virtual dollar cards, but I keep running into this error:
“This action couldn’t be completed. Try again later. [OR_BACR2_34].”

I reached out to Google support, but they said the issue couldn’t be resolved and didn’t provide any explanation.

Has anyone faced this issue before or knows how to work around it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello Nairalanders,

Please, I need your assistance with an issue I'm facing while trying to add my billing information to the Google Cloud Console so I can use Firebase Functions.

I've tried multiple debit cards, Nigerian cards, and virtual dollar cards, but I keep encountering the following error:
“This action couldn’t be completed. Try again later. [OR_BACR2_34].”

I even contacted Google support about the issue, but they said the issue couldn't be resolved, and they couldn’t disclose the reason for it.

Has anyone else experienced this problem or knows how to resolve it? I would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

Yes, you're right, even my ex said the same thing.

Coolsat:
Don't ever believe any rape story from a woman, it's all lies.

You never knew with women

Haha, I had a similar experience, but I'm skeptical about her claim since it doesn't seem accurate. Her confidence in that aspect is not convincing.

Coolsat:

Na this type of op one bitch like that use menstrual blood deceive my friend say she be virgin that year. She reserve menstrual blood rush come give my friend say he don disvirgin am, my friend kom Dy brag till dy play him her tape. He didn't recover sha after finding out the truth. 😂😂😂😂.

Dem know say virginity good but dem no fit close their legs , na to dy blame innocent rape 😂😂😂

I find it interesting that you're taking this so personally, and I'm curious about why you would label someone you don't know as 'broke.' It appears evident that there might be some emotional distress on your end, and I'm inclined to believe it could be related to personal experiences and mostly because you're no longer a virgin yourself and you're already regreting that. It's important to remember that we all have our unique journeys, and making assumptions about others based on limited information may not accurately reflect their reality.

Boondocxs:
Why is it always the stupid broke and wretched men that are looking for what did not lost
Are you a virgin yourself
Nonsense
That’s why this forum irritates me
Every day every time woman and virginity
Una no dey tire
Men Shior!!!!!

What do you mean boring? this is not meant to be fun, i only need advice or suggestions

livenija:
Boring thread by a secondary school student thinking this is twitter

How boss? can you be more explicit?

Gentlesoul2021:
U will learn the hard way this man ..

This is a really helpful comment, thanks. Well, I think the only reason I love her so much is because she's very cute and the time we've spent together but she don't like working or further her education, anytime i talk about it she always feels uncomfortable, and she likes twisting things around a lot even when she's wrong, and that's why I can't trust her for her sexual history aspect.

chachanga:
She's probably lying and you should know that to have your peace.

Most Nigerian girls use that rape cover up to look holy even when it was them who went looking for the guys who hung their legs high up and gave it to them hard. Don't be a phool. If she's lying about that, she's probably lying about a few other things too. Yes, to look better in your sight, to have better negotiating power with you, to set your mind at ease to gain your trust and not to have unnecessary headaches from you poking around in her past asking silly questions like you're asking now.

And why?

because that virginity itself, just in its own, is no guarantee of happiness for you with her or her future faithfulness to you or you to her.

Go and settle down and really know what your purpose, plans, goals and pursuits in life are. And let that be a defining yardstick in your choosing a partner. Do you have high compatibility of tastes, habits, desires and dislikes? What is her value system like? What is her life outlook? Where does she see herself in 5, 10, 15 years? Is she a Japa seeker or the Naija Homegirl type? What skills does she have? Have you checked her character beyond the gentility that's catching you now?

Realize this now. Her mindset should be your highest priority. It will either either spell doom for you or be your reason for future testimonies.

Stop running around asking for frivolous questions. If you have a good mind and plan for the girl, get serious. If not, furk Ur own and go, we kuku can't stop you, only God dey see all man.

Late 20s

Zonefree:
First thing first, how old are you?

She's very tight, but do you think sex with condom is really a sex? The first time I tried it I couldn't continue I had to pull it off so I never enjoy using it. I guess am too selfish or something because I don't really know why am feeling this way

Zonefree:
The hymen is broken is not the issue, the length and width of the vagina should be a thing of concern to this OP if he's a wise man.

Thanks for this comment am not so sure about the rape thing but I can confirm her body count is just 2

Zonefree:

Ask about 98.783% of Nigeria non virgin girls how they got deflowered, they will tell they got raped.

The truth is, any girl that got deflowered through rape will find it difficult to get entangled with a man.

But, your beloved girlfriend got entangled with another guy and with you also.

Let me be honest with you, your girl's body count is way above 63 if well counted.

Ready for what, boss?

dawnomike:
You're not yet ready... Let us know once you are!

.

Thanks, i really apprecuate your comment

truthCoder:
Nope. Why wait till then?

Do your development, get out your MVP. Test, iterate and iterate.

Get your domain and brand names etc.

If your product is unique, you might get funding for the licensing.

Just don’t launch without the license

I just hope there won't be any issue from cbn or efcc before we can afford the license

Earnmoreprofit:
Boss lunch ur app all those license is after you think u have expand

Thank you, maybe I will have to wait till I can afford the license

YoungCabal:
I'm not saying finance business is not good, you are not allowed to run financial services without a licence same way you can't just wake up one morning and rent a shop in your neighbourhood and turn it into a bank.

On the issue of profit, it depends on the transaction volume not really the number of users. You can have 10,000 users and still may not make any reasonable profit at the end of the month if they don't perform enough transactions, some of these fintech companies are just running on vibes, they don't make a reasonable profit yet.

To be honest, I don't advice any young talented person to be solely responsible for anything monetary in this age filled with peer pressure to outdo one's self, you can easily get tempted to borrow from it even if you didn't have any bad intention initially.

Thank you

Earnmoreprofit:
Boss lunch ur app all those license is after you think u have expand

Thanks for this, i really appreciate

YoungCabal:
Two things are involved:
1. You launch and wait for CBN to come for you
2. You don't launch until you get a licence

Whether CBN will come for you or not will depend on what major services you are providing and when they notice your activities.

NOTE:
1. you can't hold people's funds for saving on their behalf without a licence.
2. if you are planning to collect money on people's behalf without them directly selling any service on your platform, you'll also need a licence


ADVICE:
Money can be very tempting to keep, you might get tempted to divert people's money for personal use or investments purposes and regret it. Even banks and fintechs are audited occassionally to make sure nobody is diverting anyone's money for personal use. Stay away from anything that will involve EFCC for your own good, find something else to do

Thank you for this, is there any penalty if someone not ready to obtain the mmo license?

aieromon:
Yes, and the requirements are stringent.

https://www.mondaq.com/nigeria/shareholders/1133168/procedure-for-obtaining-mobile-money-operator-license-in-nigeria

You can grab the download link of the guidelines from the QR Code.

Is it something required before we launch?

aieromon:
You need the licence from CBN.

Hello guys, I'm currently working on a mobile wallet app in which we integrate almost all the Flutterwave API, and we also planning to launch, please is it required to get a cbn license before we launch or we can get that later, how important is the license?

Hello everyone, I'm currently working on a mobile wallet app in which we integrate almost all the Flutterwave API, and we also planning to launch, please is it required to get a cbn license before we launch or we can get that later, how important is the license?