The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a directive to all banks, financial institutions, acquirers, and payment service providers to implement mandatory dual connectivity for Point of Sale transactions within the next month. This move aims to address the persistent downtime of PoS machines caused by reliance on a single transaction channel.
According to a circular dated December 11, 2025, signed by the Director of Payments System Supervision, Rakiya Yusuf, the new requirement updates an earlier directive issued in September 2024. The policy requires acquirers, processors, and payment terminal service providers to maintain active connections with both the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System and Unified Payment Services Limited. This dual-connectivity framework is expected to reduce dependence on a single aggregator and strengthen the stability of the nation’s electronic payment infrastructure.
To ensure full compliance, the bank has mandated regular redundancy and failover tests. The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System and Unified Payment Services Limited are required to work with regulated institutions to verify that systems can maintain uninterrupted service, with test results forming part of the Central Bank’s supervisory review. Furthermore, the circular introduces tighter reporting obligations, requiring immediate notification of downtime and submission of a detailed incident report to the Payments System Supervision Department within 24 hours.
The directive is part of efforts to improve the efficiency and reliability of the country’s payment systems. The move comes barely a week after the Corporate Affairs Commission ordered unregistered PoS operators to register or risk being shut down, while also warning fintech companies against sharp practices. The implementation of dual PoS connectivity is expected to enhance the overall stability of Nigeria’s financial system and reduce the frequency of PoS downtime.
The Central Bank’s directive is significant, as it demonstrates the regulator’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing the country’s payment ecosystem. With the growing reliance on digital payments, the need for a robust and reliable payment infrastructure has become increasingly important. The adoption of dual PoS connectivity is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s financial inclusion efforts and contribute to the development of a more efficient and stable payment system.
