E-Financial
CBN Directs Payment Service Providers to Tracking POS Transactions
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a new directive mandating that all Point-of-Sale (PoS) transactions at merchant and agent locations, whether physical or electronic, must be routed through a licensed Payment Terminal Service Aggregator (PTSA).
This directive is part of the bank’s broader efforts to enhance the monitoring of electronic payments across the country.
In a circular released by Oladimeji Yisa Taiwo of the CBN’s Payments System Management Department, service providers have been given a 30-day deadline to comply with these enhanced routing guidelines.
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The central bank emphasized that PoS transactions must now pass through one of the CBN-approved PTSAs, which are responsible for ensuring compliance and security in electronic transactions.
The circular stated, “To achieve the objective of tracking electronic transactions in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria, in August 2011, granted a Payment Terminal Service Aggregator licence to Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc.
“In furtherance of this, the CBN hereby directs acquirers to route all transactions from PoS terminals at merchant and agent locations, through any CBN-licensed PTSA.”
The new policy aims to decentralize transaction routing to prevent over-centralization of PoS operations under a single entity, addressing concerns over transparency and accountability.
Additionally, it aligns with CBN’s continued push to combat fraud and enhance security measures within Nigeria’s electronic payment system.
According to a recent report from Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, PoS terminals accounted for over 26% of fraud incidents in 2023.
This directive also comes just days after the September 5 deadline for PoS agents to register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The CAC has already begun cracking down on non-compliant operators, shutting down unregistered PoS businesses as part of its enforcement efforts.
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These measures reflect the CBN’s broader initiatives to regulate and secure Nigeria’s payment ecosystem, particularly following concerns over the use of PoS terminals for fraudulent activities and the ongoing efforts to limit trading in cryptocurrencies.
Service providers have until October 12, 2024, to ensure they are fully compliant with the new routing guidelines. Failure to comply may result in further regulatory actions from the CBN.
Flutterwave, an African payments technology company, said yesterday it has received approval from Ghana’s Central Bank to provide inward remittance services.
This development, according to the business, reinforces Flutterwave’s aim to simplify payments across Africa. In announcing the development, Flutterwave stated that Ghana’s financial sector is fast growing, with high mobile phone penetration and a vibrant mobile money ecosystem.
Remarkably, it continued, 60% of foreign exchange is received through mobile money platforms, demonstrating the critical role they play in the financial lives of Ghanaians.
Beyond mobile money, areas such as insurtech, lend-tech, and buy now, pay later are expanding rapidly, creating a vibrant and diverse fintech environment, according to the business.
Furthermore, Flutterwave stated that the Bank of Ghana’s supportive regulatory framework and the Ghana Digital Agenda have created an attractive market for fintech innovation.
According to Flutterwave, the latest approval is consistent with these trends, guaranteeing that Ghanaians can benefit from rapid, secure, and cost-effective remittance services.
Olugbenga Agboola, founder and CEO of Flutterwave, commented on the milestone: “Remittances play a vital role in the Ghanaian economy, and our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible for Ghanaians in the diaspora looking to send money home.”
Oluwabankole Falade, chief regulatory and government affairs officer at Flutterwave, added: “We are grateful to the Bank of Ghana for their support and look forward to expanding our services in the country.”
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a public alert on 58 companies allegedly running illegal Ponzi schemes in Nigeria, warning citizens against investing in them.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, said the 58 Ponzi operators falsely pose as investment firms, defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians of their money.
Oyewale noted that none of the companies are registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“The two regulators, in separate correspondences with the EFCC, denied that they are registered with them,” the statement reads.
“The commission has charged many of the companies to court, with five of them convicted, another five pleaded guilty but awaiting review of facts while the rest are pending arraignment.”
The companies listed include Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies, AQM Capital Limited, Titan Multibusiness Investment Limited, Brickwall Global Investment Limited, Farmforte Limited & Agro Partnership Tech, Green Eagles Agricbusiness Solution Limited, Richfield Multiconcepts Limited, Forte Asset Management Limited, (Biss Networks Nigeria Limited, S Mobile Netzone Limited, Pristine Mobile Network), Letsfarm Integrated Services, Bara Finance & Investment Limited, Vicampro Farms Limited, Brooks Network Limited, Gas Station Supply Services Limited, Brass & Books Limited, (Annexation Biz Concept & Maitanbuwal Global Venturescrowdyvest Limited,) and Crowdyvest Limited.
Others are Jadek Agro Connect Limited, Adeeva Capital Limited, Oxford International Group and Oxford Gold Integrated, Skapomah Global Limited, MBA Trading & Capital Investment Limited, TRJ Company Limited, Farm4Me Agriculture Limited, Quintessential Investment Company, Adeprinz Global Enterprises, Rockstar Establishment Limited, SU.Global Investment, Citi Trust Funding PLC, Farm Buddy, Eatrich 369 Farms & Food, Globertrot Farmsponsors Nigeria Limited, Farm Sponsors Limited, Cititrust Credit Limited, Farmfunded Agroservices Limited, Adamakin Investment & Works Limited.
The rest include Cititrust Holding PLC, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solutions Limited, Chinmark Homes & Shelters Limited, Emerald Farms & Consultant Limited, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Limited, Farm 360 & Agriculture Company, Requid Technologies Limited, West Agro Agriculture & Food Processing Limited, NISL Ventures Limited & Estate of Laolu Martins, XY Connect Investment Limited, River Branch Unique Investment Limited, Hallmark Capital Limited, CJC Markets Limited, Crowd One Investment, Farmkart Foods Limited, KD Likemind Stakeholders Limited, Holibiz Finance Limited, Ifeanyi Okpe Oil & Gas Services, Servapps Nigeria Limited, Barrick Gold Mining Company and 360 Agric Partners Limited.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring fraudulent investment schemes and protecting Nigerians from financial exploitation.
House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling for the suspension of the increase in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction charges and the stoppage of free ATM withdrawals for customers from other banks in Nigeria.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Marcus Onobun.
Onobun, drew the attention of the House to a circular by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to that effect.
Lawmakers were worried that this would impose additional financial burdens on Nigerians.
The House asked the CBN to suspend the policy pending proper engagement with the relevant committees on banking, finance, and financial institutions.
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