Business

Lagos Traders Decry Shortage Of PoS Terminals

Published

14 years ago

April 18, 2012

Traders in Lagos have complained that the unavailability of Point of Sales (PoS) terminals might hinder the implementation of the cash-less policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the state.

They told newsmen in separate interviews that the aim of the scheme might be defeated if the CBN fails to address the shortage of PoS immediately.

Our correspondents, who visited some major markets in Lagos, recently reported that many traders were yet to key into the pilot scheme, 10 days after its commencement, due to non- availability of the terminals.

President, Association of Alaba Traders, Uche Ugochukwu, advised CBN to deploy more PoS terminals, adding that it was necessary to remove any hurdle that might hinder the implementation of the policy.

The association president said that the PoS terminals were still inadequate in major markets in Lagos.

He said that the charges for using the terminals ranged between two per cent and three per cent, depending on the service provider.

Ugochukwu said that the remittance of money to traders’ accounts “is real time as it is online process’’.

He also said that network connectivity was sometimes a major challenge to the efficiency of the system.

According to him, the deposit and withdrawal limits under the policy were impacting negatively on their businesses. “It slows down transactions,” he said.

The Vice-President, Ladipo Auto Central Executive Committee (LACEC), Justice Mbila, said there was the need to create more awareness on the new policy to enable more traders to key into it.

He recalled that some officials of banks visited the market early in the year to educate traders on the policy and teach them how to use the PoS terminals.

Mbila, however, said that majority of Ladipo traders were illiterates, insisting that they needed more enlightenment to enable them to understand the benefits of the policy.

Emaka Obina, a spare part dealer, said that he did not understand the new system.

He said that he had not seen a PoS terminal, but he believed that it would not be difficult to operate, just like the mobile phones.

Mrs. Shukurat Adekunle, a beverage seller at Apongbon market, told The Tide source that she had only seen the demonstration of the PoS on television, but that she had not seen it physically.

She admitted that there were enough enlightenment campaigns on the scheme, but that the apex bank should have extend the campaign and ensure that enough PoS terminals were made available.

The acting Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Niyi Ajao, said that 30,000 terminals had been deployed and connected to NIBSS central switch since January.

He said that the issue of delay in debiting merchants accounts after transactions had been addressed and customers’ account were being debited within one day.

The governor of CBN, Malam Lamido Sanusi, said in January, that bank customers would not pay charges for using Point of Sale (PoS) machines.

He said that the cost of such deals would be borne by merchants by paying 1.25 per cent of the transaction fee.

Meanwhile, Interswitch Nigeria, provider of cards and other e-payment services, has assured that there would be an improvement on Point of Sales (PoS) terminal and other e-transaction channels facing challenges.

According to the company, solution to public complaints on the e-payment challenges was in areas that have drawn immediate attention of both the regulator and stakeholders. The company described them as issues instituted from infrastructural and technology instability.

The Director, Payment, Infrastructure and Transaction Processing, Akeem lawal said the newness of PoS and other e-payment methods, aside from ATM, couple with infrastructure are some of the factors militating against the development of the cashless policy.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, over the weekend, he said: “The Central Bank of Nigeria has licensed several PTSP operators to focus on the PoS market and ensure that first and second level supports are given to business and merchant outlets that have PoS terminals.”

Business

FIRS Clarifies New Tax Laws, Debunks Levy Misconceptions

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Inland Revenue Service has said that Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws are designed to strengthen economic competitiveness, attract investments, and improve long-term fiscal stability.

The agency also clarified that the much-debated four per cent development levy on imported goods is not a new or additional tax burden, but a streamlined consolidation of several existing levies.

According a statement released Wednesday, one of the most misunderstood elements of the new tax framework is the four per cent development levy with the agency explaining that the levy replaces a range of fragmented charges — such as the Tertiary Education Tax, NITDA Levy, NASENI Levy and Police Trust Fund Levy — that businesses previously paid separately.

This consolidation, it said, reduces compliance costs, eliminates unpredictability and ends the era of multiple agency-driven levies. The law also exempts small businesses and non-resident companies, offering protection to firms most vulnerable to economic shocks.

Another major clarification relates to Free Trade Zones. Earlier commentary had suggested that the government was rolling back the incentives that have attracted export-oriented investors for decades. However, the reforms maintain the tax-exempt status of FTZ enterprises and introduce clearer guidelines to preserve the purpose of the zones.

“Under the new rules, FTZ companies can sell up to 25 per cent of their output into the domestic market without losing tax exemptions. A three-year transition period has also been provided to allow firms to adjust smoothly.

“Government officials say the reforms aim to curb abuses where companies used FTZ licences to evade domestic taxes while competing within the Nigerian market”, it said.

With the new measures, Nigeria aligns with global FTZ models in places like the UAE and Malaysia, where the zones function primarily as export hubs for logistics, manufacturing and technology.

The introduction of a 15 per cent minimum Effective Tax Rate for large multinational and domestic companies has also been met with public concern. But the FIRS notes that this policy aligns with a global tax agreement endorsed by over 140 countries under the OECD/G20 framework.

Without this adoption, Nigeria risked losing revenue to other countries through the “Top-Up Tax” mechanism, where the home country of a multinational collects the difference when a host country charges below 15 per cent. By localising the rule, Nigeria ensures that tax revenue from multinational operations remains within its borders.

Business

CBN Revises Cash Withdrawal Rules January 2026, Ends Special Authorisation

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised its cash withdrawal rules, discontinuing the special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly, with effect from January 2026.

In a circular released Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and signed by the Director, Financial Policy & Regulation Department, FIRS, Dr. Rita I. Sike, the apex bank explained that previous cash policies had been introduced over the years in response to evolving circumstances.

However, with time, the need has arisen to streamline these provisions to reflect present-day realities.

The statement said the new set of cash-related policies is designed to reduce the cost of cash management, strengthen security, and curb money laundering risks associated with the economy’s heavy reliance on physical currency.

“These policies, issued over the years in response to evolving circumstances in cash management, sought to reduce cash usage and encourage accelerated adoption of other payment options, particularly electronic payment channels.

“With the effluxion of time, the need has arisen to streamline the provisions of these policies to reflect present-day realities,”

“Effective January 1, 2026, individuals will be allowed to withdraw up to N500,000 weekly across all channels, while corporate entities will be limited to N5 million”, it said.

According to the statement, withdrawals above these thresholds would attract excess withdrawal fees of three percent for individuals and five percent for corporates, with the charges shared between the CBN and the financial institutions.

Daily withdrawals from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) would be capped at N100,000 per customer, subject to a maximum of N500,000 weekly stating that these transactions would count toward the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit.

The special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly has been discontinued.

The CBN also confirmed that all currency denominations may now be loaded in ATMs, while the over-the-counter encashment limit for third-party cheques remains at N100,000. Such withdrawals will also form part of the weekly withdrawal limit.

Deposit Money Banks are required to submit monthly reports on cash withdrawals above the specified limits, as well as on cash deposits, to the relevant supervisory departments.

They must also create separate accounts to warehouse processing charges collected on excess withdrawals.

Exemptions and superseding provisions
Revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments, along with accounts of microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks with commercial and non-interest banks, are exempted from the new withdrawal limits and excess withdrawal fees.

However, exemptions previously granted to embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies have been withdrawn.

The CBN clarified that the circular is without prejudice to the provisions of certain earlier directives but supersedes others, as detailed in its appendices.

Business

Shippers Council Vows Commitment To Security At Nigerian Ports

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC)has restated its commitment towards ensuring security at Nigerian seaports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr Pius Akuta, said this in Port Harcourt, while declaring open a one day workshop organized by the Nigerian Shippers Council in collaboration with the Nigerian police( Marin Division).

Theme for the workshop was ‘Facilitating Port Efficiency; The strategic Role of Maritime police “

Akuta who was represented by the Director, Regulatory Services, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mrs Margeret Ogbonnah, said the workshop was to seek areas of collaboration with security agencies at the Ports with a view to facilitating trade

Akuta said the theme of the workshop reflects the desire of the council and the Nigerian police to build capacity of police officers for better understanding and administration of their statutory roles in the Maritime environment.

He said Nigerian seaports has constantly been reputed as one of the Port with the longest cargo dwell in the world, adding,”This is so, because while it takes only six hours to clear a containerized cargo in Singapore Port, seven days in Lome Port, it takes an average of 21 days or more in Nigerian Ports” stressing that this situation which has affected the global perception index on Ease of Doing Business in Nigerian seaports must be addressed.

Akuta said NSC which is the economic regulator of the Ports has the responsibility of ensuring that efficiency is established in the Ports inorder to attract patronages.

“Pursuant to its regulatory mandate, the NSC has been collaborating with several agencies to ensure the facilitation of trade and ease of movement of cargo outside the Ports to avoid congestion”he said.

Also speaking the commissioner of police, Eastern Port Command, Port Harcourt, CP Tijani Fakai, said Maritime police has played some roles in facilitating Ports efficiency.

He listed some of the roles to include ensuring security and crime prevention at the Ports, checking of illegal fishing activities at the Ports, checking of human trafficking and drug smuggling and prevention of fire incident at the Ports.

Represented by ACP, Rufina Ukadike, the CP said police at the Ports have also helped in the decongestion and prevention of unauthorized Anchorage.

He commended the Nigerian Shippers Council for the workshop and assured of continuous collaboration.

Speaking on the dynamics of cargo handling, Deputy Controller of customs, Muhydeen Ayinla Ayoola, said the launching of electronic tracking system and dissolution of controller General Taskforce has helped to ensure efficiency at the Ports.

Ayoola who represented the custom Area Controller Port Harcourt 1 Area command, however raised concerned over rising national security threat , which according to him has affected efficiency at the Ports.

John Bibor