The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a comprehensive directive targeting Point-of-Sale (PoS) devices across the country, requiring all licensed operators including Moniepoint, OPay, PalmPay, and commercial banks to geo-tag every PoS terminal in their network within 60 days.
This directive, released on August 25, 2025, mandates that all PoS machines currently in use must be registered with their precise GPS coordinates, verifying the exact business location of each device. Merchants will be restricted to processing transactions within a 10-metre radius of their registered business address, and any device not geo-tagged by the deadline will be deactivated.
To achieve this, devices must be equipped with built-in GPS systems integrated with the National Central Switch for real-time monitoring through a special software development kit (SDK). Newly deployed PoS terminals must also be geo-tagged before activation, with Payment Terminal Service Providers (PTSPs) and mobile money companies responsible for ensuring full compliance across their networks.
The CBN’s move is aimed at addressing rising fraud, preventing the deployment of cloned or “ghost” PoS terminals, and enhancing transparency in Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital payments ecosystem. With over 1.5 million PoS agents and more than 4 million active terminals reported nationwide, the directive seeks to tighten regulatory oversight and improve security.
Compliance checks will commence on October 20, 2025, giving operators a narrow window to upgrade their infrastructure to meet the new requirements. The CBN’s enforcement intends to safeguard consumers and maintain trust in Nigeria’s financial technology sector amid evolving challenges.