Build a Mobile Money Agent Network Expansion Plan for Northern Nigeria

Mobile money adoption in northern Nigeria lags behind the south, even though services like OPay, Palmpay, and the CBN's eNaira are widely available. The gap is not primarily about smartphones or internet plans. It is about the absence of trusted human agents who can onboard users, handle cash-in and cash-out, and troubleshoot problems in local languages. In Sokoto or Maiduguri, a person may need to travel 10 to 15 kilometres to reach the nearest functioning agent. Many agents in these areas also churn quickly because the economics do not work for them at low transaction volumes. This creates a chicken-and-egg problem: low usage means poor agent earnings, which means fewer agents, which keeps usage low. Your task is to produce an agent network expansion plan targeting one specific state in northern Nigeria. The plan should include: a mapping of current agent density against population data (using publicly available NIMC, NBS, or CBN data), an analysis of why agents churn in that region, a proposed incentive and support model for new agents, and a phased rollout recommendation for a telecoms or fintech operator. A strong submission will be grounded in real data rather than assumptions. It will name specific LGAs, engage with the economics from an agent's perspective (not just the operator's), and propose something a real operator could act on with limited resources. Secondary research, structured interviews with 3 to 5 agents or potential agents, and a clear one-page executive summary are the minimum bar.