Barely 48hrs, eNaira App Gets Removed From The Google Play Store

Barely 48hrs after launch, the eNaira speed wallet disappears from the Google Play Store. This development came on Wednesday after over 100,000 users had gone ahead to download the eNaira app amid negative reviews and low ratings. The eNaira was introduced by the Apex Bank of Nigeria as a medium to serve as a medium of exchange and also store value while also providing a unique and different form of money denominated in Naira. At launch, the eNaira witnessed the attendance of President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and top officials of the Federal Government at the State House.

Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, spokesman to the apex bank of Nigeria has disclosed that the reason for this, was to enable the app to be upgraded. In his statement, he said that “There is an upgrade going at the moment by Google; try in the next few hours.” While the eNaira speed wallet had disappeared on the Play Store, checks on the iOS Store revealed that the eNaira speed wallet was still very much active and had even been upgraded.

In the President’s address on Monday, the President said the e-currency would be of great help by increasing remittances, encouraging cross-border trade, strengthening financial inclusion, making monetary policy more effective, and enabling the government to send direct payments to citizens eligible for welfare programs

Meanwhile, observation showed that while the eNaira speed wallet was off the Google Play Store, the eNaira merchant wallet, the arm designed for businesses, was still functional by 9 pm on Wednesday with about 10,000 downloads already. Both wallets were created in other to drive usage of the eNaira, both were available as at the launch on Monday. To access both apps, users had to download wallets based on the purpose. The speed wallet particularly allows users to carry out transactions with speed and ease. The digital storage held the eNaira and is managed on a distributed ledger. Before the eNaira speed wallet disappeared on Play Store, it had a rating of about 2.0 from 2. As at Tuesday evening, about 150 reviews complained of glitches on the App.

A Mobile App Developer explained various reasons why an app may suddenly go missing on the Google Play Store for a myriad of reasons. He said the reason could an infringement of Google’s policies or simply because the developers chose to take it down. The developer explained that “If the developers removed it, it could be that the app was not functioning as expected or they realized it was violating a Google policy. If it was Google that removed it, it is either they were reported or/and violated a policy.” When asked if Google could choose to perform an upgrade to an app in the Play Store, the developer explained that the best Google could do was give directives, the developer said, “No, they can only give guidelines, except Google developed it.”

The apex bank has warned that Nigerians beware of some fraudulent practices by individuals using the eNaira as a means to share false information. The apex bank has stated that a Twitter handle, @enaira_cbdc claims to belong to the bank has continued to spread misleading information. The apex bank, in a statement titled, “Beware of fraudsters, fake eNaira social media handles” explained that the impostor has been posting messages related to the eNaira with the intent of wooing unsuspecting Nigerians.

The statement said “Following the formal launch of the eNaira on Monday, October 25, 2021, the attention of the CBN has been drawn to criminal and illegal activities of some individuals and a fraudulent Twitter handle, @enaira_cbdc purported to belong to the Bank. The impostor handle and fraudulent persons have been posting messages related to the eNaira with the intent of wooing unsuspecting Nigerians with claims that the Central Bank of Nigeria, among other falsities, is disbursing the sum of 50bn eNaira currency. These impostors are bent on defrauding innocent and unsuspecting members of the public through the links attached to their messages for application to obtain eNaira wallets and become beneficiaries of the said 50bn eNaira currency.” To this end, the bank warned the general public to be wary of these fraudsters attempting to take advantage of eNaira in other to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

You can find out more on the official ‘eNaira Circular and Guidelines’ released by the apex bank here.