Newly Launched eNaira Suffers Huge Set As Google Removes App From Play Store

eNaira Wallet application has been removed from Google Play Store barely 36 hours after its publication by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari launched the central bank digital currency, called eNaira, on Monday.

To access the eNaira, users have to download the ‘speed wallet’, which allows users to conduct transactions with speed and ease. It is the digital storage that holds the eNaira and is held and managed on a distributed ledger.

The PUNCH had reported that users rated the application low and made several compliants on the store.

As of 05 pm on Wednesday when our correspondent visited play store, the eNaira speed wallet had been unpublished.

But the eNaira Merchant App, which has considerable positive comments is available for download.

When our correspondent visited the Apple Store, where the App was rated four of the obtainable five stars, the eNaira wallet is still downloadable.

Twenty-four hours after the eNaira App was published over 100, ooo users had downloaded it.

Users who had downloaded the application said that they have not been asked to update the 8.76 megabytes application.

The eNaira speed wallet had a rating of 2.0 of the obtainable 5.0 from 2,150 reviews on Playstore as of 5:45pm on Monday as users complained of glitches.

It is unclear if the App was unpublished by Google because of the poor rating and negative reviews or the offeror – CBN.

Mail sent to CBN’s customer care email address for the application – helpdesk@enaira.gov.ng – has yet to be replied as of the time of filing this report.

A large number of reviewers of the app on Play Store earlier complained about bugs.

While some said the App is not accepting their e-mail addresses, others complained that it was rejecting their Bank Verification Numbers.

One of them, Omenkukwu Chinedu, said, “Very poor user experience so far. It is a known fact that email was not a mandatory requirement setting up BVN, now this app wants to use the BVN email. This will stampede a lot of people trying to update their BVN.”

Oghenevwogaga Olotu added, “About 80 per cent of Nigerians don’t have emails linked to their BVN and to use the app they expect Nigerians to start going to banks to fic it just to use an app? If CBN wants eNaira wallet to be used in our day-to-day living, then they should make it easy to use and accessible for everyone. Everything in Nigeria always has to be complicated.”

Kadiri Akeem said, “Great App and seems promising. More than an hour after I agreed the activation link should be sent to my email, it has not been sent. I have requested a resend several times, yet no response.”

Also, Anyaogu Peter said, “I don’t have access to the email linked to my BVN anymore. To use your App, I will have to go and change it. A better way would have been to use phone numbers. That would accommodate everyone.”

Gieve Blackjoe expressed displeasure over the App, saying, “When I read about this innovation by CBN, I was thrilled but I am not enthused anymore. I am rather being discouraged from using this maiden platform that should be seamless as anticipated. I will uninstall it.”

George Victor complained that he was finding it difficult to transact on the App.

“I have successfully registered and the App is working well but there is no means of crediting the eNaira wallet. I checked banks’ mobile App (Zenith, Access, Gtbank). There is no option of sending money to eNaira wallet. This is making the eNaira wallet look useless,” he said.

Reacting to the complaints, CBN said, “We apologise for the difficulties you experienced while registering with us. We understand this can be frustrating.

“We would chat with you with regards to your experience with us. We are working hard to improve the App.

“We are working towards making this better. We regret the inconvenience you had faced. helpdesk@enaira.gov.ng.”

Punch