Terms of Service

Last updated: July 17, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") form a legally binding agreement between you and HANDI Limited ("HANDI", "we", "our", "us"), a company registered in Nigeria under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (RC 9684059). By accessing or using the HANDI platform at handiapp.com.ng or our mobile application, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use our platform. These Terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy.

1. Definitions

In these Terms, the following words have the following meanings:

  • "Platform" — The HANDI website (handiapp.com.ng), mobile applications, and all related technology services operated by HANDI Limited.
  • "Customer" — Any individual or entity that registers on the Platform to search for, book, or pay for services.
  • "Service Provider" — Any individual or business that registers on the Platform to offer services to Customers.
  • "User" — Any Customer, Service Provider, or visitor accessing the Platform.
  • "Service" — Any work, task, or service listed and offered by a Service Provider through the Platform.
  • "Booking" — A confirmed request by a Customer to engage a Service Provider for a specific Service at an agreed time and price.
  • "Verified" — A Service Provider who has completed HANDI's identity and credential verification process as described in Clause 4.
  • "FCCPA" — Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
  • "NDPA" — Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
  • "Service Area" — The Nigerian state(s) in which HANDI currently permits Service Providers to register and Customers to book Services, as published on the Platform. As at the date of these Terms, the Service Area is Rivers State only. Product purchases from Vendors are not restricted by Service Area.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, making a Booking, listing a Service, or otherwise using the Platform, you confirm that:

  • You are at least 18 years of age;
  • You have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract under Nigerian law;
  • All information you provide to HANDI is accurate, current, and complete; and
  • You have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

3. HANDI's Role — Platform Intermediary

3.1 What HANDI is

HANDI operates as a technology marketplace and intermediary platform. We provide the technology, tools, and infrastructure that allow Customers and Service Providers to find each other, communicate, and transact. We are not a party to the contract for services formed between a Customer and a Service Provider at the time of a Booking.

3.2 What HANDI is not

HANDI is not an employer of Service Providers. Service Providers are independent contractors who offer their services through our Platform. HANDI does not direct, control, or supervise the manner in which Service Providers carry out their work.

3.3 The service contract

When a Booking is confirmed, a direct contract is formed between the Customer and the Service Provider for the delivery of the specified Service. HANDI is not a party to that contract. Any dispute about the quality, delivery, or outcome of a Service is primarily between the Customer and the Service Provider, subject to HANDI's dispute resolution process in Clause 9.

3.4 Service Area

Service Provider registration and Service Bookings are currently only available within HANDI's Service Area (as at the date of these Terms, Rivers State). HANDI may expand the Service Area over time, and will update the Platform and these Terms accordingly. Product listings and purchases from Vendors are available nationwide and are not subject to this restriction.

4. Service Provider Verification and "Verified" Status

4.1 What verification means

HANDI verifies Service Providers on a tiered basis, appropriate to the risk profile of their stated service category. A Service Provider is only labelled "Verified" on the Platform once all checks applicable to their tier have been completed:

  • Tier 1 — Basic (all Service Providers): Identity verification against the National Identity Number (NIN) database, and confirmation of the phone number and email address associated with the account by OTP verification.
  • Tier 2 — Standard (home-entry trades, e.g. cleaners, handymen, plumbers, carpenters, electricians): Tier 1 checks, plus a Police Character Certificate and at least two contactable references. This tier is being phased in and may not yet be fully enforced for all providers in this category.
  • Tier 3 — Professional (regulated professions, e.g. engineers, builders, architects, medical practitioners): Tier 1 checks, plus verification of the relevant professional licence or certification with the applicable Nigerian professional body (e.g. COREN, CORBON, ARCON, or council registration) and at least two contactable references.
  • Tier 4 — High Risk (work involving vulnerable populations, e.g. childcare, elderly care, home tutoring): Tier 3 checks, plus a video onboarding interview and a Police Character Certificate dated within the preceding 6 months.

The tier(s) applicable to a Service Provider depend on their declared service category. HANDI may update these tiers, and the checks within them, from time to time to reflect evolving safety and regulatory standards.

4.2 Limitations of verification

Important: Verification is conducted at the point of onboarding and at periodic renewal intervals. It does not guarantee the current validity of licences, the quality of workmanship, the safety of work performed, or the outcome of any Service. HANDI does not inspect work sites, supervise service delivery in real time, or provide warranties about Service Provider performance. For high-value, safety-critical, or regulated work, you are encouraged to independently confirm credentials before engaging a Service Provider.

4.3 Service Provider obligations

By registering as a Service Provider, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information about yourself, your qualifications, and your services;
  • Maintain all licences, certifications, and regulatory approvals required for your service category and notify HANDI promptly if any such licence is revoked or expires;
  • Deliver services as described in your Platform listings and as agreed in each Booking;
  • Honour confirmed Bookings and comply with the cancellation policy in Clause 7;
  • Maintain professional conduct at all times when interacting with Customers; and
  • Comply with all applicable Nigerian laws and regulations governing your service category.

HANDI reserves the right to suspend or remove a Service Provider's account if we receive credible evidence that the above obligations are not being met, or if a Service Provider's verification status can no longer be confirmed.

5. Intellectual Property and Use Licence

HANDI grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to access and use the Platform for its intended purpose — connecting Customers with Service Providers — in accordance with these Terms.

Under this licence you may not:

  • Reproduce, copy, or redistribute any content from the Platform for commercial purposes without HANDI's prior written consent;
  • Modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, or create derivative works from the Platform or any of its components;
  • Remove or obscure any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notice from the Platform;
  • Use automated tools (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to extract data from the Platform without HANDI's prior written consent;
  • Transfer or sublicense your access rights to any third party.

All intellectual property rights in the Platform, including its software, design, trademarks, and content created by HANDI, remain the property of HANDI Limited or its licensors.

6. User Conduct

All Users agree to use the Platform lawfully and respectfully. The following conduct is strictly prohibited:

  • Any form of harassment, abuse, intimidation, or discrimination directed at other Users, Service Providers, Customers, or HANDI staff;
  • Submitting false, misleading, or fraudulent information (including fake reviews, false credentials, or misrepresented services);
  • Attempting to circumvent the Platform to transact directly with other Users outside of HANDI in order to avoid Platform fees ("off-platform transactions");
  • Using the Platform for any unlawful purpose, including money laundering, fraud, or activities prohibited under Nigerian law;
  • Interfering with the operation of the Platform, including through the introduction of malware, denial-of-service attacks, or unauthorised access;
  • Posting content that is defamatory, obscene, or infringes any third party's intellectual property rights.

HANDI reserves the right to immediately suspend or permanently terminate any account found to be in breach of this clause, without prior notice where the breach is serious or where delay could cause harm.

7. Payment Terms, Refunds and Cancellations

7.1 Payment processing

All online payments on the Platform are processed by Paystack, a payment service provider licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). By making a payment you agree to that provider's terms and conditions in addition to these Terms. HANDI does not store your full card number or bank account details.

7.2 Escrow and Service Provider disbursement

For Bookings paid online, the amount you pay is held by HANDI in escrow rather than paid directly to the Service Provider. Subject to clause 7.4 (refunds) and clause 9 (dispute resolution), escrowed funds are released to the Service Provider (less HANDI's platform commission, currently 5% of the Booking value) after:

  • The Service has been marked completed; and
  • The 48-hour dispute window in clause 9.1 has elapsed without a dispute being raised by the Customer, or the Customer confirms completion earlier, triggering immediate release.

Where a dispute is raised within the 48-hour window, release of the escrowed funds is paused pending the outcome of HANDI's investigation under clause 9.1.

7.3 Cash payments

Certain Service Providers may opt in to accept cash payment for a Booking, in which case the escrow process in clause 7.2 does not apply and payment is made directly between the Customer and the Service Provider. Where a Booking is paid in cash, the Service Provider remains liable to HANDI for the applicable platform commission (currently 5% of the Booking value), which HANDI will deduct from the Service Provider's wallet balance. If the wallet balance is insufficient, the Service Provider will accrue a strike; HANDI may suspend a Service Provider's account after repeated strikes (currently three) for failing to settle commission owed on cash Bookings.

7.4 Refund policy

Refunds are available in the circumstances set out below. All eligible refunds are returned to the Customer's original payment method within 5–7 business days of approval, subject to the Customer's bank processing times.

  • Service cancelled by Customer more than 24 hours before scheduled start: Full refund of amount paid
  • Service cancelled by Customer within 24 hours of scheduled start: 50% refund — unless the Service Provider agrees to a full refund in writing
  • Service cancelled by Service Provider at any time: Full refund of amount paid
  • Service not delivered as described in the Booking (confirmed after HANDI investigation): Full or partial refund at HANDI's discretion following investigation under clause 9
  • Service delivered as described in the Booking: No refund, except as required by the FCCPA 2018 or other applicable Nigerian law
  • Duplicate payment due to platform error: Full refund of duplicate amount

7.5 How to request a refund

To request a refund, contact HANDI within 48 hours of the scheduled service completion time through the in-app support feature or by email to legal@handiapp.com.ng, including: (a) your Booking reference number; (b) the reason for your refund request; and (c) any supporting evidence (photographs, written communications, receipts).

We will acknowledge your request within 2 business days. We aim to resolve all refund requests within 10 business days of receiving sufficient information. Where we require additional time, we will notify you.

7.6 Consumer rights

Nothing in this clause 7 limits or excludes any rights you have under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or any other applicable Nigerian consumer protection legislation, including your statutory right to a refund, repair, or replacement where services are not delivered as agreed.

8. Modifications to These Terms

8.1 Material changes

Where we intend to make a material change to these Terms (meaning a change that could adversely affect your rights or increase your obligations), we will give you at least 14 days' advance notice by:

  • Sending a notification to the email address registered on your account; and
  • Posting a prominent notice on the Platform.

If you do not agree to a material change, you may close your account before the effective date. Doing so means the change will not apply to you. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

8.2 Minor and administrative changes

We may make minor changes (correcting typographical errors, updating contact details, clarifying provisions without altering their substance) at any time. We will update the "Last updated" date. We will not give advance notice for minor changes.

9. Dispute Resolution

9.1 Disputes between Customers and Service Providers

If you have a complaint about a Service booked through HANDI, you must follow this process:

  • Step 1 — Raise a dispute: Contact HANDI within 48 hours of the scheduled service completion time through the in-app support feature or by email to legal@handiapp.com.ng. Include your Booking reference, description of the issue, and any supporting evidence.
  • Step 2 — Acknowledgement: HANDI will acknowledge your dispute within 2 business days.
  • Step 3 — Investigation: HANDI will contact both the Customer and the Service Provider, review the evidence provided, and may request additional information from either party.
  • Step 4 — Decision: HANDI aims to issue a written decision within 10 business days of receiving sufficient information from both parties. We will notify both parties of the outcome and the reasons for it.
  • Step 5 — Escalation: If you remain dissatisfied with HANDI's decision, you may escalate to the FCCPC (fccpc.gov.ng) or pursue available remedies under Nigerian law.

Raising a dispute does not prevent HANDI from releasing payment to the Service Provider where the investigation confirms the Service was delivered as described.

9.2 Disputes between a User and HANDI

For disputes between you and HANDI arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of the Platform, both parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation. Either party may initiate this by sending written notice to the other at the contact details in these Terms, describing the dispute and their proposed resolution.

If the dispute is not resolved within 30 days of that written notice (or a longer period agreed in writing), either party may refer the matter to arbitration in Nigeria, conducted in English under the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023, before a sole arbitrator agreed by the parties or, failing agreement within 14 days, appointed by the Court of Arbitration.

Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive relief or other equitable remedies from a competent Nigerian court.

9.3 FCCPC complaint right

These Terms do not limit your right to file a complaint with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) at any time, regardless of whether you have used HANDI's internal dispute process.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Nigerian law:

  • HANDI is not liable for any loss, damage, injury, or harm arising from services provided by a Service Provider booked through the Platform, except where such loss results directly from a fault in HANDI's platform technology (e.g. an incorrect booking confirmation generated by our system);
  • HANDI is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of your use of the Platform, even if HANDI has been advised of the possibility of such damages;
  • HANDI's total aggregate liability to you for any claim arising out of or connected with the Platform or these Terms shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to HANDI in the 3 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Important: Nothing in this clause 10 excludes or limits: (a) liability for death or personal injury caused by HANDI's negligence; (b) liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (c) any liability that cannot be lawfully excluded or limited under the FCCPA 2018 or any other applicable Nigerian law.

10A. Indemnification

10A.1 Indemnification by Customers

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HANDI, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:

  • Inaccurate, false, or misleading information you provide during registration, verification, or a Booking;
  • Instructions you give to a Service Provider that are unlawful, unsafe, or that require the Service Provider to act outside their licensed or stated competence;
  • Your breach of these Terms or misuse of the Platform, including attempts to transact off-Platform to avoid fees; and
  • Your violation of any applicable Nigerian law, or infringement of a third party's rights, in connection with your use of the Platform.

10A.2 Indemnification by Service Providers

As a Service Provider, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HANDI, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:

  • Injury, death, or property damage arising from your performance of a Service;
  • Poor workmanship, professional negligence, or failure to deliver a Service as described in your listing or agreed in a Booking;
  • Your failure to hold or maintain any licence, certification, or regulatory approval required for your stated service category;
  • Any tax, pension, or employment-related obligation arising from your status as an independent contractor, including in relation to any workers or subcontractors you engage;
  • Any unauthorised disclosure or misuse of a Customer's personal data that you obtain through the Platform, including any breach of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023; and
  • Any breach of clause 4.3 (Service Provider obligations) or other provision of these Terms.

This indemnity survives the termination of your account or these Terms.

10A.3 Payment and account security

All Users agree to indemnify HANDI against losses arising from unauthorised use of a payment method, chargeback fraud, identity theft, or other fraudulent transaction activity carried out through their account, except to the extent such loss is caused by HANDI's own negligence or a fault in HANDI's platform technology.

10A.4 Carve-outs

Nothing in this clause 10A requires a User to indemnify HANDI to the extent a claim results directly from HANDI's gross negligence, fraud, or wilful misconduct, or to the extent such indemnity would be unlawful under the FCCPA 2018, the NDPA 2023, or any other applicable Nigerian law.

11. Account Suspension and Termination

11.1 Termination by you

You may close your account at any time by contacting us at legal@handiapp.com.ng or through the account settings page. Closing your account does not affect any Bookings already confirmed or any outstanding payment obligations.

11.2 Suspension or termination by HANDI

HANDI may suspend or permanently terminate your account, with or without prior notice depending on the severity of the breach, if:

  • You breach any provision of these Terms;
  • We are required to do so by law or by a court or regulatory order;
  • We have reasonable grounds to believe your account is being used for fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity;
  • You provide false or misleading information to HANDI; or
  • A Service Provider's professional credentials can no longer be verified.

Where we suspend your account, we will inform you of the reason and, where the breach is capable of remedy, give you a reasonable opportunity to remedy it. Permanent termination may be appealed by contacting legal@handiapp.com.ng within 14 days.

12. General Provisions

12.1 Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and HANDI with respect to the Platform and supersede all prior agreements, representations, or understandings.

12.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable by a Nigerian court, that provision shall be severed from the Terms without affecting the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

12.3 Waiver

HANDI's failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

12.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms to any third party without HANDI's prior written consent. HANDI may assign its rights and obligations to a successor entity in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, provided the successor agrees to be bound by these Terms.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including:

  • The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 (FCCPA);
  • The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA);
  • The Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA);
  • The Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023; and
  • Any other applicable Nigerian federal or state legislation.

Subject to the arbitration clause in Clause 9.2, the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria and the State High Court for any dispute not referred to arbitration.

14. Contact Us