One Network, an industry-focused organisation, recognised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as agent manager, has said that Nigeria is overdue for Agent Bank scheme.
The Company providing agent locations for mobile money operators across the country said it is set to commence mobile money service in Nigeria.
This followed the successful completion of its command and control centre in Abuja, and addition of mega centre in Lagos, from where it will map out locations in every region and successfully monitor it.
Mr. Sola Bickersteth, programme managing director, One Network had earlier said that the command and control centre will be connected to the locations through a Closed User Group for real time customer support.
“With One Network’s Command and Control Centre, which will be used to create a database of all post offices, Micro Finance Banks, and other agent centres across the country, members of the public will be able to easily locate and confirm the authenticity of bonafide centres before transacting business.” Bickersteth said
He added that the activated 900 Micro Finance Banks (MFB) alongside 3,500 post offices and postal agents nationwide will serve as supervising organisations and officers for the neighbourhood agents.
Meanwhile, as agent banking begins to take root in the Nigerian economy, bank customers have been assured of seamless operations. For instance, Ugo Okoroafor, director, Corporate Communications of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), disclosed that the apex bank has registered 23 companies who are into agent banking and believes that they will all come up with different ideas and services that will drive agent banking in the country.
Similarly, One Network believes that with the activation of over 900 qualified MFBs and 3,500 Post Offices and postal agents nationwide as supervising organisations of neighbourhood agents, there will be a huge penetration of Mobile money services.
“The MFB need only contact their existing partners who are interested to serve as agents, while the Post Offices and other supervising officers can have interested agents apply through them in the coming weeks,” he said.
Bickersteth further explained that the agents will serve as human banks handling cash-in and cash-out for mobile money customers.
The essence, he added, was to bridge the agency network gap militating against mobile money penetration in the country.
He said: “With the MFBs on the One Network technology platform, Bickersteth said there was the opportunity for up to an estimated 160,000 neighbourhood businesses springing up across the country.”