Hello there. 
While technology promised us seamless assistants, many experienced developers find themselves more like supervisors than copilots. Quick coding tricks might seem to save time initially, but it’s akin to asking a novice to brew espresso-you might get a cup, but expect some spills along the way. Despite the challenges, programmers continue to embrace these shortcuts because in the tech world, what starts as a hack often becomes the norm.
Check out this insightful TechCrunch article as your cue to experiment with tech hacks that won’t disrupt your workflow this week.
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Now, let’s dive into today’s highlights.
- Starlink halts services in Lagos and Abuja
- Uber drivers in Lagos stage vehicle protests
- Megamillion makes a bold move
- BasiGo aims to deploy 1,000 electric buses across Kenya
- Exciting innovations
- Exploring Web 3.0
- Latest opportunities
Internet
Starlink suspends operations in Nigeria once more
“Sold Out.” This is the current status Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider, is displaying in key Nigerian cities.
What’s the story? Starlink has halted new subscriptions in Lagos and Abuja after reaching its network capacity limits. Prospective customers can only join a waiting list and pay a deposit until additional bandwidth becomes available.
This isn’t new. Previously, Starlink paused new sign-ups in Kenya due to overwhelming demand, resuming only after seven months once infrastructure was expanded.
And Nigeria’s no stranger to this. In late 2024, Starlink suspended nationwide sales for nearly eight months, citing bandwidth constraints and awaiting regulatory clearance. Services resumed mid-2025 alongside the opening of a Lagos walk-in center. Now, the pause has returned.
Why the repeated interruptions? Starlink claims these measures ensure quality service by preventing network congestion. However, these frequent halts raise questions about the robustness of their infrastructure in rapidly growing markets.
Looking at the bigger picture: Subscription fees in Nigeria have doubled, while active users dropped from 65,564 in Q4 2024 to 59,509 in Q1 2025. Each suspension risks undermining customer trust in Starlink’s reliability over the long term.
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Ride-hailing
Moove drivers halt services, protest against doubling of weekly remittance fees
Drivers enrolled in Moove’s vehicle financing program have ceased operations today.
They have parked their Suzuki S-Presso vehicles and gathered to protest the recent 100% increase in their weekly remittance obligations.
In Maryland, Lagos, drivers have taken to the streets to voice their opposition against a sudden 100% increase in their weekly vehicle payments.
Background: Moove, a Nigerian startup specializing in vehicle financing for ride-hailing services-primarily UberGo-had plans to secure $300 million in funding by June, potentially elevating its valuation to $1 billion. Through Moove’s hire-purchase scheme, drivers acquire vehicles by making weekly payments over approximately four years until full ownership is achieved. Recently, these weekly fees surged from ₦56,400 (about $75) to ₦112,200 (roughly $150).
Breaking down the costs: Of the $75 weekly payment, only about one-third ($27) is allocated toward repaying the loan principal. The remainder covers various additional charges, including maintenance, repairs, insurance, and a significant handling fee of $28.50.
In response to this steep hike, drivers are protesting and urging Uber to reduce its commission rate to 20% or less.
Context: Moove had hinted at increasing rates around the same period last year, attributing the potential rise to inflation and low interest rates. While it was initially just speculation, the increase has now been implemented, leading to the current impasse. The resolution lies either in Moove reconsidering the rate hike or drivers adapting to the new terms.
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Mobility
Wireless EV charging stations set to launch across Africa
South African energy firm Megamillion is gearing up to roll out wireless charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) throughout Africa. These stations will be tailored to accommodate a variety of vehicles, from motorcycles to trucks and cars.
Why wireless charging? Wireless EV chargers promise to simplify the adoption of electric vehicles by eliminating the need for expensive wired infrastructure, which remains a significant obstacle to EV growth on the continent.
Megamillion’s track record: Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership with a Chinese firm to build Africa’s first lithium-ion gigafactory in South Africa. This initiative aims to boost local battery production and strengthen Africa’s role in the EV supply chain beyond just raw material extraction.
Looking ahead: In collaboration with Indian company Dash Dynamic, Megamillion plans to pilot these wireless charging stations in public and private venues such as airports, shopping malls, and taxi ranks in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
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Startups
BasiGo aims to deploy 1,000 electric buses on Kenyan roads by 2027
Nairobi-based electric mobility startup BasiGo is intensifying efforts to spearhead Kenya’s transition to clean transportation by targeting the introduction of 1,000 battery-powered buses within the next two years.
Why this is significant: Road transport consumes over 40% of Kenya’s energy and is a major contributor to emissions. The country spends upwards of $5 billion annually on fuel imports. BasiGo’s initiative aims to redirect some of these expenditures toward electric mobility solutions, though challenges remain.
Challenges ahead: Kenya currently lacks a robust policy framework to support electric vehicle adoption. In contrast, Rwanda has eliminated import duties on EVs to encourage uptake, and South Africa’s Eskom plans to install 55 public charging stations over the next two years. Limited charging infrastructure and high upfront costs continue to hinder widespread EV adoption.
To address these barriers, BasiGo is developing a leasing model that bundles maintenance and charging services for operators. The company also intends to expand into Nigeria and Tanzania, signaling a broader push for electric commercial transport across Africa.
While Kenyan consumers may not immediately have access to personal EVs, BasiGo’s efforts could establish the groundwork for cost incentives and infrastructure improvements necessary to stimulate local demand, similar to developments seen in South Africa.
COOL STUFF!
We set out to become the go-to pan-African newsletter spotlighting the trendsetters shaping the continent. Every Tuesday, we bring you a curated selection of fascinating tech developments across Africa to keep you informed and ahead of the curve.
Featured today: Could artificial intelligence empower your neighborhood soda seller to increase sales and simultaneously enhance profits at Pepsi’s headquarters? This is the innovative vision behind Lengo AI.
Africa’s rapidly expanding consumer landscape is notoriously difficult to analyze. The majority of products are distributed through informal vendors who remain largely untracked by major corporations. Lengo bridges this gap by deploying field operatives equipped with AI technology to deliver up-to-the-minute insights on stock levels, pricing, and sales from small-scale retailers. This approach finally grants large fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies transparent visibility into product flows in markets such as Nigeria and Senegal, replacing speculation with actionable data that informs strategic decisions.
CRYPTO TRACKER
The Expanding Web3 Universe
Source:
| Coin Name | Current Value | Day | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bitcoin |
$115,207 |
– 0.58% |
– 2.03% |
| Ether |
$4,514 |
– 3.13% |
+ 0.86% |
| Avantis |
$1.12 |
+ 8.00% |
+ 278.42% |
| Solana |
$234.32 |
– 3.55% |
+ 21.83% |
* Data accurate as of 5:30 AM WAT, September 16, 2025.
Opportunities
- Applications are now open for Techstars’ Spring 2026 accelerator programs. Selected startups receive $220,000 in funding, expert mentorship, lifelong access to a global network of investors and alumni, plus over $4 million in partner benefits. Graduates typically raise over $1 million post-program. Submit your application by November 19.
Written by: Opeyemi Kareem and Ifeoluwa Aigbiniode
Edited by: Ganiu Oloruntade
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