Business

PoS Transactions Jump To N8tn – NIBSS Report

Published

3 years ago

September 1, 2022

The value of Point of Sale transactions in Nigeria has jumped 39 per cent to N8.03tn in 2022, according to data obtained from the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System.

The data showed that the aggregate PoS transactions between July 2020 and July 2021 were estimated at N5.77tn. However, between July 2021 and July 2022, the volume of transactions increased to N8.03tn, indicating a 39.16 per cent increase over the period.

PoS transactions increased from a total volume of 921.19 million between July 2020 and July 2021, to 1.20 billion from July 2021 to July 2022.

According to the NIBSS, July 2022 alone recorded the highest number of PoS transactions registered at 2.067 million in just one month.

According to the Deputy President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Gabriel Idahosa, the primary factor responsible for the recorded value of PoS transactions was an increase in the supply of services and a strong market.

“First, the central bank approves payment services such as Momo Money from MTN and Smart Cash from Airtel.”

He noted that the rise of fintech companies and the use of technology for awareness of this payment method were also major propellers.

“Then, you have a lot more fintech companies advertising payment services. Organisations are allowing payments on their platform. Now, power companies allow payment of electricity bills over PoS, and even some government services let you do that. All the schools, both primary and secondary, allow you to use PoS too. Also, the banks have been very aggressive in promoting their PoS services.”

Idahosa noted that the culture of cashless policy was also fast becoming a trend largely due to the lingering impact of the COVID-19 period.

“The culture of non-cash payment is catching up very fast. Even for the illiterate that ordinarily cannot use the service, the increasing offer of USSD service which you can do over your phone means that many people with cellphones can now make payment.

“These were initially triggered by COVID-19 when people could not easily walk to the banks to cash. So, during that time, banks were partially closed for some time, and it became difficult. Those people who were not familiar with electronic payment options now began to learn it. And now, it is the preferred mode of payment.”

Commenting on the increase, an economist, Bismarck Rewane, said that the increment was influenced by technological advancement.

“There’s a shift from cash and cheques to electronic payment. That’s why there has been an increase. There is broadband penetration, more mobile phone subscribers, and Nigerians are becoming more internet-savvy. So, they are making payments electronically rather than going by brick and mortar.”

A Senior Lecturer at Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Olusegun Vincent, further explained that the increase was inevitable due to inflation.

“Inflation is part of the surge. Prices of goods and services have gone up. Another major aspect is the issue of insecurity. People are being very careful. That’s why they adopt PoS because of the ease of payments. You will discover that if you don’t use PoS, you can’t get money. Most Automated Teller Machines are often running out of funds. So, nobody wants to waste time and they go to the merchant.”

He added that the national acceptance of electronic payment was a revolution, and the central bank never foresaw this amount of adoption.

PUNCH

Business

JUST IN: CBN Removes Cash Deposit Limits, Raises Weekly Withdrawal To N500,000

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has removed cash deposit limits and also increased the weekly cash withdrawal limit from N100,000 to N500,000.

The CBN made this known in a circular to all banks and other financial institutions, signed by Dr Rita Sike, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department.

Sike said that the revisions formed part of ongoing efforts to moderate the rising cost of cash management and address security concerns.

According to her, it will also curb money laundering risks associated with heavy reliance on cash.

She said that the cash-related policies previously issued in response to evolving circumstances were aimed at reducing cash usage and promoting the adoption of electronic payment channels.

“However, with time, the need to streamline and update these provisions to reflect present-day realities became necessary,” she said.

She said that with effect from Jan. 1, 2026, the cumulative deposit limit would be removed and the fee previously charged on excess deposits would no longer apply.

The director said that the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit across all channels has been reviewed to N500,000 for individuals and five million Naira for corporates.

“Withdrawals above these thresholds will attract excess withdrawal charges as specified,” she said. “The special monthly authorisation that allowed individuals to withdraw five million Naira and corporates N10 million once a month has been abolished.”

She said that for Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), daily withdrawal remains capped at N100,000 per customer, with a maximum of N500,000 weekly.

She said that this formed part of the overall weekly withdrawal limit applicable to all channels, including point-of-sale (POS) transactions.

Sike said that excess withdrawals above the stipulated limits would attract three per cent for individuals and five per cent for corporate customers.

According to her, this will be shared in the ratio of 40 per cent to the CBN and 60 per cent to the operating bank or financial institution.

She directed banks to load all currency denominations in ATMs, while the existing limit on over-the-counter encashment of third-party cheques remains pegged at N100,000.

Sike said that such withdrawals would be counted as part of the cumulative weekly limit.

The director said that banks were also required to render monthly returns to the relevant supervisory departments.

She listed the departments to include the Banking Supervision Department, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, and the Payments System Supervision Department.

Sike said that revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments were exempted from the new withdrawal rules.

She said that accounts of microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks held with commercial and non-interest banks are also exempted from the new rules.

She, however, said that the long-standing exemption previously enjoyed by embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies had been removed.

Business

Naira Records Depreciation Against US Dollar Across Official, Black Markets

Published

5 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

The naira depreciated against the dollar at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday to begin the new month on a bearish note.

Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that the Naira weakened to N1,448.44 on Monday, down from N1,446.74 traded on Friday last week.

This means that the naira dropped by N1.7 against the dollar on Monday when compared to Friday.

Similarly, at the black market, the Naira declined by N5 to N1,475 on Monday from N1,470 at the close of work last week.

The development comes as Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $44.61 billion as of November 27th, 2025.

Business

NNPCL Revenue, Profit Soar To N5.08tn, N447bn In October

Published

1 week ago

November 29, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced a significant revenue increase to N5.078 trillion for October 2025.

The state-owned firm disclosed this in its monthly financial report released on Saturday.

According to the financial report, from N5.078 revenue in October, the company posted a N447 profit after tax.

The figure represents a significant 19.2 percent increase in revenue from N4.26 trillion and a 106 percent rise in PAT from N216 billion in September 2025.

The report stated that from January to September, NNPCL paid N11.150 trillion in statutory payments to the federation.

Four days ago, NNPCL posted a total of N45.1 trillion as total revenue for the 2024 financial year.