As a means of putting tighter measures on abuses in financial transactions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a new maximum of N1.2m daily volume for Point of Sales (POS) operators.
It also prescribed a new upper limit of N100, 000 withdrawal by an individual POS outlet user for a day.
Application of these new measures start immediately, whereas provisions relating to agent location and exclusivity will become effective from April 1, 2026.
The regulation for operators comes under a new set of guidelines released to regulate agent banking operations across the country.
The circular, signed by the Director of the Payments System Policy Department, Musa Jimoh, was addressed to all deposit money banks, other financial institutions, and payment service providers.
“POS agents are restricted to a maximum of N1.2 million per day. Individual customers are limited to N100,000 in daily transactions.
“These limits are intended to curb misuse, enhance financial integrity, and protect consumers within the agent banking framework,” it stated.
The guidelines also noted that the “CBN may vary or amend the transaction limits specified from time to time for each service in line with the extant CBN Guide to Charges for Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria.”
Geo-Tagging Of Operators
The CBN’s new framework mandated that all agent banking transactions must be conducted through a dedicated account or wallet maintained by the principal financial institution, adding that use of non-designated accounts for agent operations is now prohibited, and violations will attract sanctions.
It noted that agents found guilty of fraud, misconduct, or other offences will be personally liable and may face termination or placement on an industry watchlist.
Under the new framework, the financial institutions, referred to as “principals,” are expected to publish and regularly update the list of their agents on their official websites and display the same in their branches.
The guidelines require that super agents, who are only authorised to manage other agents, operate with at least 50 agents spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, to ensure wider access to financial services in rural and underserved areas.
The guideline also prohibited agents from relocating, transferring, or closing their business premises without written approval from their principals or super agents, adding that any relocation notice must be posted visibly at the business premises for at least 30 days to notify customers.
