African fintech product expansion: Yoco AI deal, CBN data localisation, and Nigeria credit gap in focus

South Africa's Yoco has struck an AI deal to deepen its SME payments suite, while Nigeria's persistent consumer credit gap — where banks lend ₦10 to corporates for every ₦1 to consumers — underscores the structural fintech lending opportunity. CBN data localisation compliance pressure continues to add regulatory cost risk for fintech operators in Nigeria. Together the signals illustrate an African fintech landscape simultaneously advancing product sophistication and navigating rising regulatory complexity.