Reps to investigate Carbon, OPay, OKash, other Nigerian loan apps (See list)

Following threats to debtors and complaints among Nigerians, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate Carbon, Fairmoney, OKash and other lending applications (apps) companies.

The decision was made on Thursday after a member of the House, Ahmed Satomi, moved a motion titled ‘Urgent Need to Investigate Sharp Practices by Unregulated Online Fintech Lending Companies and Abuse of Mobile Digital Loan Apps in Nigeria.’

Satomi said some fraudulent loan apps that are unscrupulous profiteers are affecting many low-income Nigerians. The lawmaker opined that some Nigerians are trapped in the web of sham loan apps due to coercion.

He said low-income earners are swindled by the unscrupulous and unregulated loan apps hosted on Google Play Store by individuals and companies, who took advantage of the economic downturn during COVID-19, that resulted to job loss in the country.

According to him, “The House is disturbed that these predatory lending apps are disguised as platforms where unsuspecting members of the public are promised access to quick loans with no collateral except the provision of a Bank Verification Number.

“The House is also disturbed that such victims are expected to repay loans at astronomical interest rates within three to seven days, as against the 91 to 365 days claim on Google Play store, which has over 83.07 per cent market share in Nigeria.”

READ ALSO:CBN to meet with loan apps, startups, others to test innovations

List of Nigerian loan apps to be investigated

The House has directed the Committee on Banking and Currency, Committee on Financial Crimes, and Committee on Telecommunications to investigate Carbon, Fairmoney, OKash, and OPay.

It was gathered that LoanMe, LifePurse iLoanPro, PalmCredit, Branch, EasyCredit, NewCredit, CashCredit, LifeLine, and Lumos Loan will also be probed.

The operations of KiaKia, PayLater, Umba, Carbon, FirstNell, SharpCash, iMoneyPlus, , NairaPlus, SharpCredit, MoneyHub, 9jaCash, Henloan and Get Loan will be investigated.

Others on the list are Cashbean, CashMe, QuickCheck, SoftNaira, Care Finance, Newcredit, LairaPlus, OxLoan, New Credit Loan App, Future Cash, NoNowMoney, Cash Mall, NairaLand, Naira9ja, Fundy, Plenty Cash, and Aella Credit.

The investigation will take four weeks, with the committee expected to report their findings to the lower chamber.

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