Recon Hits N1bn Transaction Volume as Contactless Payments Gain Ground in Jos

A contactless payment startup, Recon, has recorded over N1 billion in transaction volume while still operating in beta, with activity largely concentrated in Jos, Plateau State.

The development highlights what appears to be a growing shift toward digital payments in parts of Northern Nigeria, particularly among small merchants and event vendors.

Founder, Johnpaul Nwobodo, said the idea for Recon was born during a period of cash scarcity in Nigeria, when access to physical cash and payment infrastructure became increasingly difficult.

“We started Recon during cash scarcity,” he said. “People needed a more reliable way to send and receive money, and that was where the idea came from.”

Initially designed as a wallet solution, the platform has since evolved into a contactless payment system that allows merchants to receive payments directly through their phones.

“We have evolved to enable merchants to receive money using just their phones as an mPOS,” he said. “This removes the need to buy a physical POS device.”

According to him, traditional POS systems remain a financial barrier for many small businesses, especially informal merchants.

“Some of these devices cost between $50 and $100 depending on the grade,” he said. “For a lot of people, that is not an easy expense.”

Nwobodo noted that Recon’s early traction challenges common assumptions about financial exclusion and digital adoption in underserved regions.

“When you see over N1bn in transaction volume coming from a single city in beta, it makes you think differently,” he said. “Maybe the issue is not that people are unbanked, but that systems have not adapted to them.”

He added that user behaviour in Jos suggests a stronger-than-expected readiness for digital financial tools.

“There is real adoption happening,” he said. “People are not resisting technology. They are embracing what works.”

One of the platform’s notable use cases was during a partnership with The TASCK at a music festival in Jos, where vendors used Recon to process payments seamlessly.

“At that event, vendors were able to receive payments without disruption,” he said. “It showed us what is possible in real-world conditions.”

He explained that such live environments are important for testing scalability and reliability.
“If it can work in a busy event setting, it can work anywhere,” he said.

Despite its early success, Recon is still in its growth phase and currently preparing for fundraising to expand operations beyond Plateau State.

“We are still early,” Nwobodo said. “It is still day one for us, but we are excited about what the future holds for contactless payments in Nigeria.”