CashAfrica’s new tap‑to‑pay solution is now live at all Chicken Republic outlets, letting diners settle bills with a single smartphone tap. The rollout signals a shift toward NFC‑based payments in Nigeria’s fast‑food sector and deepens CashAfrica’s foothold in the creator‑economy‑linked retail space.
CashAfrica’s tap‑to‑pay service uses NFC chips embedded in existing point‑of‑sale (POS) terminals at over 150 Chicken Republic locations across the country. Customers with Android or iOS devices that support Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, or CashAfrica’s own mobile wallet can complete a purchase by holding their phone near the terminal for less than two seconds. No QR code, no PIN, no cash.
The rollout was coordinated by Chicken Republic’s head of operations, who highlighted three objectives:
1. Speed up service, Reducing average queue time from 4.2 minutes to under 2 minutes during peak hours.
2. Boost transaction safety, Limiting physical contact with terminals amid lingering health concerns.
3. Capture data, Leveraging transaction metadata to refine menu pricing and targeted promotions.
CashAfrica’s CEO, Chinedu Nwankwo, described the move as “a natural evolution for a brand that serves the digitally native generation.” He added that the partnership serves as a testbed for future integrations with loyalty apps and creator‑driven campaigns, where influencers could embed discount codes directly into the tap‑to‑pay flow.
The technical integration required minimal hardware changes. Existing terminals, already equipped with NFC capability for card payments, were simply updated with CashAfrica’s SDK (software development kit). The SDK encrypts transaction data end‑to‑end, complying with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Payment System Vision 2025. This ensures that the solution meets regulatory standards while maintaining a seamless user experience.
- Market size: Nigeria’s contactless payment volume reached N1.2 trillion in 2023, a 38 % year‑on‑year increase, according to CBN data.
- Adoption rate: Mobile wallet users grew from 15 % of the adult population in 2020 to 27 % in 2023.
- Transaction speed: Early pilots at three flagship Chicken Republic outlets recorded an average checkout time of 1.8 seconds per tap, compared with 4.5 seconds for card swipes.
- Revenue impact: CashAfrica projects a 12 % uplift in transaction volume for Chicken Republic in the first quarter post‑launch, driven by reduced friction and higher average spend per visit.
The partnership also unlocks ancillary revenue streams. CashAfrica can charge a 0.5 % processing fee on each tap‑to‑pay transaction, well below the 1.5‑2 % typical for card‑based payments. Moreover, the data layer enables targeted advertising, where brands can purchase “tap‑through” slots that appear on the consumer’s phone screen after payment, generating an additional N150 million in projected ad revenue for the first year.
From a financial perspective, Chicken Republic’s parent company, FoodCo, expects the initiative to improve same‑store sales growth by 3‑4 percentage points annually. The reduction in cash handling costsestimated at N2 billion annually for the chainfrees up capital for menu innovation and franchise expansion.
The CashAfrica‑Chicken Republic deal illustrates a broader shift in Nigeria’s retail payments architecture. Historically, fast‑food chains have relied on cash and card terminals, with mobile payments confined to niche markets. By mainstreaming NFC tap‑to‑pay, the partnership challenges entrenched habits and signals to other verticalssuch as cinema chains, pharmacies, and convenience storesthat contactless is no longer a premium offering but a baseline expectation.
The move also dovetails with the rise of the creator economy. Influencers and micro‑creators increasingly monetize through direct sales of merchandise, event tickets, and digital content. A frictionless payment layer embedded in everyday transactions creates a natural conduit for creators to embed affiliate links or exclusive offers directly into the checkout process. CashAfrica’s platform already supports “creator codes,” allowing a TikTok star to earn a 5 % commission on every tap that uses their unique identifier.
Furthermore, the data generated from tap‑to‑pay interactions offers unprecedented insights into consumer behavior. By analyzing purchase frequency, average spend, and time‑of‑day patterns, Chicken Republic can fine‑tune staffing levels, inventory, and promotional calendars. This data-driven approach mirrors practices in e‑commerce, where real‑time analytics drive dynamic pricing and personalized offers.
> “When a customer taps their phone, we instantly know what they bought, when, and where. That intelligence is worth more than the transaction itself,” said Nwankwo in a recent interview.
Regulators are watching closely. The CBN has been encouraging the shift to electronic payments to improve financial inclusion and reduce the shadow economy. However, it has also warned about data privacy, mandating that fintechs store transaction records for a minimum of five years and obtain explicit consent for any secondary use. CashAfrica’s compliance framework, built on encrypted tokenisation, is designed to satisfy these requirements while still enabling value‑added services.
The next phase for CashAfrica involves scaling the tap‑to‑pay model beyond Chicken Republic. Negotiations are underway with two of Nigeria’s largest supermarket chains, each operating over 200 stores. If successful, the cumulative addressable market could exceed N5 trillion in annual transaction volume.
Simultaneously, CashAfrica is piloting a “tap‑and‑earn” feature that rewards users with loyalty points redeemable for digital goods or creator‑hosted experiences. This gamified layer aims to increase wallet share and keep users within the CashAfrica ecosystem for longer periods.
On the technology front, the firm plans to integrate biometric authentication for high‑value transactions, adding a layer of security without compromising speed. The rollout timeline targets a beta release by Q2 2027, contingent on user feedback and regulatory clearance.
For Chicken Republic, the partnership opens doors to co‑branded marketing campaigns with popular Nigerian creators. A forthcoming pilot will allow a music influencer to embed a limited‑time discount code that automatically applies when a customer taps their phone, linking the creator’s fan base directly to sales.
CashAfrica’s tap‑to‑pay deployment at Chicken Republic demonstrates how a focused fintech solution can reshape payment habits in a high‑traffic retail environment. By slashing checkout times, cutting cash‑handling costs, and unlocking rich consumer data, the partnership delivers tangible benefits to both parties while laying groundwork for creator‑centric monetisation strategies. As NFC adoption accelerates across Nigeria, the model may become the template for future collaborations between fintechs, retailers, and the burgeoning creator economy.