CBN directs IMTOs to open naira settlement accounts

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed all International Money Transfer Operators operating in the country to open and maintain naira settlement accounts with authorised dealer banks, as part of efforts to tighten oversight of diaspora remittances and improve transparency in the foreign exchange market.

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The directive was contained in a circular dated March 24, 2026, signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Dr Musa Nakorji, and addressed to IMTOs, authorised dealer banks and the general public.

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The circular was published on the apex bank’s website on Tuesday.

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The CBN said the measure is aimed at “enhancing diaspora remittances, strengthening transparency, traceability, and effective monitoring of all transactions.”

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It stated that “all IMTOs are hereby directed to open naira settlement accounts and ensure that all transactions are routed strictly through their designated settlement accounts, maintained with Authorised Dealer Banks in Nigeria.”

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Under the new rule, all inflows, beneficiary payments and related settlements linked to international money transfers are to be processed solely through these accounts.

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IMTOs may, however, operate multiple settlement accounts across different banks in line with their operational needs.

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The circular also introduced tighter controls on how the accounts can be funded, stating that they “shall only be credited with remittance flows and proceeds of foreign exchange conversions by licensed IMTOs (or their agents)” within the Nigerian foreign exchange market.

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Operators are required to clearly designate the accounts and submit the details to the CBN, with updates provided periodically where necessary.

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To improve market operations, authorised dealer banks are permitted to process foreign currency transfers from IMTO settlement accounts to other banks and approved participants, including licensed Bureau De Change operators.

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The apex bank further directed IMTOs to adopt market-reflective pricing by referencing the Bloomberg BMatch system. It said IMTOs “shall observe real-time market prices from the Bloomberg BMATCH and utilise this as guidance for pricing transactions with their customers and Authorised Dealers.”

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According to the CBN, this approach is expected to “improve price discovery, reduce information asymmetry between IMTOs and banks, and encourage increased participation in the official FX market.”

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The bank added that all operators must maintain proper transaction records for regulatory checks and comply fully with anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and counter-proliferation financing rules.

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“This directive takes effect from May 1, 2026. Please note and ensure compliance,” the circular stated.

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The move shows the CBN’s push to channel remittance inflows through formal banking channels, boost liquidity in the official foreign exchange market and strengthen regulatory oversight of cross-border transactions.

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PUNCH Online reports that IMTO inflows into Nigeria fell by 11.78 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period of last year, according to figures from the CBN’s Quarterly Statistical Bulletin.

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An analysis of the data showed that IMTO receipts totalled $2.07bn between January and June 2025, down from $2.34bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

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This represents a decline of about $275.93m year-on-year, showing pressure in an important non-oil foreign exchange source at a time the monetary authorities are banking on remittances to support market liquidity.

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