Business

Cash withdrawal limits will send us out of business – POS Terminal operators

Published

2 years ago

December 8, 2022

The new directive on cash withdrawal by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday is generating heated comments and reactions from Nigerians, especially point of sale (PoS) terminal operators who largely depend on cash to run their business.

FIJ interviewed some operators at Agric and Isawo bus-stops in Ikorodu on Wednesday and they spoke on how the policy would impact their means of livelihood.

A tricycle operator who identified as Kamoli Abayomi explained that the policy would not sit down well with the unbanked and uneducated population, citing an instance of a tricycle dealer in Agric, who doesn’t operate a bank account because he lacks confidence in the banks.

“I heard about the regulations yesterday in a news report. I am concerned about uneducated people and those who do not patronise banks,” Abayomi told FIJ.

“A couple of weeks ago, one old man selling tricycle here (Agric) sold a tricycle for ₦650,000 and he had to acquire the bank information of one of his fellow tenants at their complex to receive the payment.

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“Ordinarily, he prefers customers to pay in cash. If the money is huge, he would quickly take it home for safe-keeping. For people like this, how would they fare under this new banking rules?”

Tobi Martins has a PoS stand at the entrance of RSA Street, close to Isawo. He told FIJ the policy would not favour his business.

“I read the news yesterday on social media and became affected. I thought of how this would reduce my business patronage and even inconvenient some customers who come here to withdraw large sums,” he said.

“However, I think they have their reasons and we too will find a way to accommodate the new reality.”

IT COULD KILL OUR BUSINESS

Agbaje Mary, an indigene of Osun State, said she was not aware of the development.

“I didn’t know anything about this policy until you told me. It is not going to affect my business positively. I’m an admission seeker and I started this business to make myself productive while hoping to go get an admission,” she explained.

“What this means to me is that I may end up closing this business by the time my customer base diminishes as a result of this policy. I remember I started with ₦10,000 a year ago and the capital has multiplied now. In a day, I could trade with ₦200,000 and even more.

“But now, if I cannot withdraw more than ₦50,000 for my business over the counter in a day, the implication is that my business could die gradually.”

When this reporter approached Ajibola Janet for comments, she said she was not aware of such regulations. After reading out the letter to her, she also expressed her worry over the development, saying “it will definitely tell on our business”.

“Such policy is unfair. Our business is cash-dependent and limiting how much people withdraw daily and how much we also can withdraw to use for business, will bring severe impacts on our operations,” he said.

“At any rate, this is not my only line of business. I will rather concentrate my attention on other lines for my survival and follow the trend.”

As this reporter approached Adebisi Adejumoh and Mosun Akanji, what came to their minds was that he wanted to withdraw money. Upon initiating a conversation with them, they realised his purpose was entirely different.

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Adejumoh said, “This policy is too harsh. People withdraw various amounts from me daily. Sometimes, some people come here to withdraw ₦100,000 at once.”

“The higher the amount an individual withdraws at a go, the higher my own charges. So, if it now becomes impossible for one person to withdraw above ₦20,000 in a day, I am confused, as we would be making adequate profits and receive my pay at the end of the month from my employer.”

On her own part, Akanji dismissed the policy as untrue. She said it was doubtful the apex bank would release such regulations when POS business had kept many productive.

“I don’t want to believe what you are saying is true. Why will they (CBN) pronounce a policy like that? It does not have human face. Looking at the number of people in this business, there may be a problem if the policy becomes effective and people can no longer make ends meet,” Akanji explained to FIJ.

At another shop on a one-storey building situated at Isawo junction, a man who identified as Emmanuel Houston, told FIJ that the policy would affect everybody to different extents.

According to Houston, POS machines have created jobs for thousands of Nigerians and ensured relative peace in some communities.

“In Isawo alone,” Houston said, “unless there is an official register of POS terminals here, you might not be able to count the number of people doing the business.

“Some people don’t take it as their full line of business while some do not have any other business. I believe the regulations have the potential to bite everybody regardless.”

With the new CBN regulations, ATMs will only dispense ₦200 notes and below.

The revised cash withdrawal limits contained in a letter with reference number BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/015/069 becomes effective on January 9, 2023.

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Railway

Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC

Published

19 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has disclosed that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) trains are included in the Federal Government’s free train ride initiative for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The LRMT, which currently includes the Phase 1 Blue Line Rail and the Phase 1 of the Red Line Rail, operates under the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

This announcement was made by Ben Iloanusi, the Acting Managing Director of the NRC, during an interview on NTA News TV on Friday, following the launch of the initiative earlier that day.

While Iloanusi stated that Phase 1 of both the Blue Line and Red Line Rail projects are part of the program, LAMATA has yet to confirm this inclusion.

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Iloanusi outlined the other routes benefiting from the scheme, which include the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service, Kaduna-Abuja Train Service, Warri-Itakpe Train Service, Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mass Transit in Lagos. Notably, little was previously known about the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mass Transit service until this disclosure.

“Let me mention the routes where this free train service is happening. We have the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service, we have the Kaduna-Abuja Train Service, we have the Warri-Itakpe Train Service, we have the Lagos Rail Mass Transit trains, we have the Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service, and we have what we call the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mass Transit, which is also in Lagos,” he stated.

Iloanusi provided operational updates, stating that passengers nationwide can access free tickets online or, for those unable to do so, at train stations where they will be profiled and validated.

He noted that passengers using NRC-managed services (excluding the Lagos Rail Mass Transit) should reserve tickets via the official website, www.nrc.gov.ng, with a valid ID required. He also advised travelers to plan, arrive on time, and bring valid identification.

Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC

Business

NNPC denies claim of Port Harcourt refinery shutdown

Published

19 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Port Harcourt refinery

NNPC denies claim of Port Harcourt refinery shutdown

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has denied claims in media reports that the newly refurbished Port Harcourt refinery has shut down.

The national oil company denied the claim in a press release issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Saturday.

Soneye said the claim was false and urged Nigerians to disregard it. He stressed that the Port-Harcourt Refinery is fully operational.

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The statement read, “The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.

“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.”

He noted that preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing, and added that claims of the shutdown are “figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.”

NNPC denies claim of Port Harcourt refinery shutdown

Business

CBN permits BDCs to buy up to $25,000 FX weekly from NFEM

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Trends Admin

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso

CBN permits BDCs to buy up to $25,000 FX weekly from NFEM

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted Bureau de Change (BDC) operators temporary permission to purchase up to $25,000 weekly in foreign exchange (FX) from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

This move, detailed in a circular dated December 19, 2024, is designed to meet seasonal retail demand for FX during the holiday period.

The circular was signed by T.G. Allu, on behalf of the Acting Director of the Trade and Exchange Department.

The arrangement will be in effect from December 19, 2024, to January 30, 2025.

Under the directive, BDCs may purchase FX from a single Authorized Dealer of their choice, provided they fully fund their accounts before accessing the market.

Transactions to occur at the prevailing NFEM rate

The transactions will occur at the prevailing NFEM rate, and BDCs are required to adhere to a maximum 1% spread when pricing FX for retail end-users.

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All transactions conducted under this scheme must be reported to the CBN’s Trade and Exchange Department.

The circular read in part:

“In order to meet expected seasonal demand for foreign exchange, the CBN is allowing a temporary access for all existing BDCs to the NFEM for the purchase of FX from Authorised Dealers, subject to a weekly cap of USD 25,000.00 (Twenty-five thousand dollars only).

This window will be open between December 19, 2024 to January 30, 2025.

“BDC operators can purchase FX under this arrangement from only one Authorized Dealer of their choice and will be required to fully fund their account before accessing the market at the prevailing NFEM rate. All transactions with BDCs should be reported to the Trade and Exchange department, and a maximum spread of 1% is allowed on the pricing offered by BDCs to retail end-users.”

The CBN assured the general public that PTA (Personal Travel Allowance) and BTA (Business Travel Allowance) remain available through banks for legitimate travel and business needs.”

These transactions are to be conducted at “market-determined exchange rates” within the NFEM framework.

This initiative reflects the CBN’s strategy to stabilize the FX market and manage seasonal surges in demand.