CBN Clarifies Status of Cybersecurity Levy

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied reintroducing the cybersecurity levy which collection was recently suspended. The levy, initially mandated at 0.5 percent for banks to collect on behalf of the National Security Adviser, was put on hold following backlash from the public and a directive from the Federal Executive Council.   Despite ongoing rumors suggesting the levy’s reintroduction, the CBN firmly denied these claims in its recent Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for the 2024-2025 fiscal years.   In a circular issued on September 17, the CBN addressed misunderstandings surrounding its guidelines, stating that the document reflects prior policies up to December 31, 2023.   The CBN reiterated that the cybersecurity levy, suspended in May 2024, is no longer applicable, and stressed the importance of accurate reporting regarding its policies. The bank encouraged stakeholders to seek clarification before disseminating information.  

CBN directs payment service providers to begin PoS transaction tracking

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed all Payment Service Providers to route all transactions from PoS terminals at merchant and agent locations through an approved CBN Payment Terminal Service Aggregator. The Apex Bank explains that this directive is without prejudice to whether such transaction was physical or electronic. It also issued a 30-day deadline requiring service providers to comply with enhanced routing guidelines for Point of Sale transactions. This move aims to strengthen the monitoring of electronic transactions across Nigeria and decentralise PoS transaction routing, addressing concerns about the centralisation of such transactions under a single entity. The apex bank, in a circular signed by Oladimeji Yisa Taiwo on behalf of the CBN’s Payments System Management Department on Thursday, stated that all PoS transactions from merchant and agent locations must now be routed through any CBN-licensed PTSA. The circular read, “To achieve the objective of tracking electronic transactions in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria, in August 2011, granted a Payment Terminal Service Aggregator license to Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc. In furtherance of the above, the CBN hereby directs acquirers to route all transactions from PoS terminals at merchant and agent locations, whether on physical or electronic PoS terminals, through any CBN-licensed Payment Terminal Service Aggregator.” “PTSAs are required to send PoS transactions to only processors certified by the relevant Payment Scheme, nominated by the Acquirer, and licensed by the CBN.” This development follows the expiration of the 5th September deadline for PoS agents to formally register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Although the directive was challenged in court, the CAC recently announced that it has commenced taking drastic actions, including shutting down PoS businesses that failed to register. The directive on PoS business registration comes against the backdrop of frequent fraud incidents involving PoS terminals and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s plans to prevent trading in cryptocurrency or virtual currency. According to a report by Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, PoS terminals accounted for 26.37% of fraud incidents in 2023