Question 1

What is Lango?

Accepted Answer

Lango (Swahili for 'Portal') is a market-access platform built by ChopEba Technologies that connects producers to retailers in Nigeria. Instead of visiting dozens of stores separately, producers register once, build a profile, and apply to multiple stores through one system.

Question 2

Who is Lango built for?

Accepted Answer

Lango serves two types of users: producers (manufacturers, food companies, personal care producers, and distributors looking to get shelf space) and retailers (supermarkets, pharmacies, mini-marts, and specialty stores looking to discover new products).

Question 3

How is Lango different from a regular product directory?

Accepted Answer

Lango is not just a list. It handles the full application process: producers apply, pay, get reviewed, and receive decisions all in one place. Retailers publish their requirements upfront, so both sides know what to expect before anything is submitted.

Question 4

Is Lango available as a mobile app?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Lango runs as a web platform. A native iOS and Android app is planned for a later version of the product.

Question 5

How does a brand get started on Lango?

Accepted Answer

Sign up with your email or phone number, complete OTP verification, then submit your KYC documents: business registration, tax ID, and representative owner information. The Lango team reviews your submission within 48 to 72 hours.

Question 6

What is the Product Vault?

Accepted Answer

The Product Vault is where you store and manage all your SKUs (products). For each SKU, you can add the product name, category, cost price, recommended retail price, barcode, NAFDAC number, expiry date, and product image.

Question 7

How do I apply to a store?

Accepted Answer

Browse the retailer directory, filter by city, store type, or product category, then select the categories and stores you want to apply to. The platform shows you a matrix of retailer pairs with the application fee for each. Pay once, and all selected applications are submitted together.

Question 8

Can I apply to more than one store at a time?

Accepted Answer

Yes (coming soon). Lango is built specifically for this. You can select multiple SKUs and multiple retailers in one submission and pay for all pairs in a single transaction.

Question 9

What happens after I submit an application?

Accepted Answer

You will receive an email confirmation. The retailer reviews your application and can approve, reject, or hold it. You get an email notification when a decision is made. You can also track all application statuses from your dashboard.

Question 10

Can I reapply if a retailer rejects my application?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If rejected, you can resubmit to the same or other retailers. In a later version of the platform, bulk resubmission to multiple retailers will be available in a single action.

Question 11

What documents does my brand need?

Accepted Answer

You need a valid business registration certificate, tax ID, bank account details, and beneficial owner information. For products that require it (food, drugs, personal care), a valid NAFDAC registration number is also required.

Question 12

Is Lango free for retailers?

Accepted Answer

Retailers can set up a store profile and receive applications at no charge in the base tier. A SaaS subscription is available for chains that want advanced features like bulk decision tools, analytics, and a custom sourcing dashboard (coming soon).

Question 13

How do I set up my store on Lango?

Accepted Answer

Fill in your store profile: name, chain affiliation, address, city, store type, categories accepted, buyer contact details, and other details. Your store will then appear in the retailer directory for producers to discover.

Question 14

How do I review incoming brand applications?

Accepted Answer

Log in to your account, which shows a chronological list of all applications. Click any application to see the brand profile, product image, NAFDAC number, cost price, and RRP. You then choose to Approve, Reject, or Hold the application.

Question 15

Can I ask a brand a question before deciding?

Accepted Answer

In-app messaging between retailers and brands is available from V2 of the platform onward. You can send questions directly inside the application thread, share files, and get responses before making a decision.

Question 16

Can I set requirements before brands apply to my store?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your store profile includes fields for accepted categories, listing status (open, closed, or selective), required documents, and commercial terms like your margin expectation and minimum order quantity. Brands see all of this before they apply.

Question 17

Can I manage applications across multiple store branches?

Accepted Answer

Multi-outlet application management and bulk decision tools are available from V2 onward. Larger retail chains can also access a custom sourcing dashboard under the Retail Sourcing SaaS plan.

Question 18

How much does it cost to apply to a store?

Accepted Answer

Each application is charged as a one-time fee of ₦5,900.

Question 19

When do I pay?

Accepted Answer

You pay at checkout, after selecting retailers and reviewing the full cost breakdown. Payment is processed through a payment gateway that supports card, bank transfer, and USSD.

Question 20

What payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

You can pay by debit/credit card, direct bank transfer, or USSD.

Question 21

Are there refunds if a retailer rejects my application?

Accepted Answer

Application fees are transaction fees paid for the right to have your application reviewed, not for guaranteed approval. Refund terms are outlined in Lango's terms of service.

Question 22

Are there subscription plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Retailers can subscribe to monthly plans for access to advanced features. Producers can also access premium tools such as a Lango Verified badge (a recurring subscription that confirms all business and compliance documents are in order).

Question 23

Is my payment information stored on Lango?

Accepted Answer

No. Lango does not store any card or payment data. All payment processing is handled by the verified payment gateway, which is PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant.

Question 24

What is KYC, and why is it required?

Accepted Answer

KYC stands for Know Your Customer. It is a standard identity check to confirm that your business is registered and legitimate. Both brands and retailers go through a KYC review before their accounts are fully activated.

Question 25

What documents are needed for KYC?

Accepted Answer

You will need your business registration certificate, tax ID (TIN), and the full name of your representative (the person who controls the business). You may also need to upload supporting documents as PDF, JPG, or PNG files.

Question 26

How long does KYC approval take?

Accepted Answer

The Lango operations team reviews KYC submissions within 48 to 72 hours. You can check your KYC status (Pending, Approved, or Rejected) from your account page at any time.

Question 27

What happens if my KYC is rejected?

Accepted Answer

You will receive a notification with notes explaining why your submission was rejected. You can correct the issue and resubmit your documents.

Question 28

Does Lango verify NAFDAC numbers?

Accepted Answer

Lango checks whether a NAFDAC number has been provided and flags missing or expired numbers before you submit an application. However, the platform does not independently validate NAFDAC certificates with the agency. Producers are responsible for ensuring their certifications are current and genuine.

Question 29

What is Lango Verified?

Accepted Answer

Lango Verified is a badge shown on a brand's profile that confirms all key business and compliance documents have been reviewed and are in order. It is a paid subscription and works similarly to a trust signal for retailers reviewing applications.

Question 30

Is my data safe on Lango?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All traffic on Lango is encrypted using TLS 1.2 minimum. Sensitive data like bank account details is encrypted at rest. The platform uses Row-Level Security (RLS) at the database level, which means each user can only ever see their own data: no producer can see another brand's applications, and no retailer can see applications sent to a different store.

Question 31

How are passwords stored?

Accepted Answer

Passwords are hashed using bcrypt. Lango never stores plaintext passwords.

Question 32

How does Lango handle login sessions?

Accepted Answer

Sessions use JWT tokens that expire after 1 hour. Refresh tokens are stored in secure, httpOnly cookies, which prevents them from being accessed by browser scripts.

Question 33

Is there a limit on how many requests I can make?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The platform enforces a rate limit of 10 requests per minute per IP address to prevent abuse.

Question 34

What files can I upload, and are they scanned for viruses?

Accepted Answer

Lango accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files only, with a 500kb per-file limit and a 10MB total limit per KYC submission. All uploaded files are scanned for viruses using ClamAV before they are stored.

Question 35

Does Lango sell my data?

Accepted Answer

No. Lango does not sell or share user data with third parties. The platform is built to GDPR-ready standards and supports data deletion requests.

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