The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has issued a sweeping directive mandating that all Point of Sale (POS) operators across Nigeria must complete proper business registration before January 1, 2026, warning that failure to comply will result in immediate enforcement actions.
In a public notice released on Saturday and signed by the Management of the Commission, the CAC raised concerns over the surge in unregistered POS businesses, stating that such operations breach the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 as well as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Agent Banking Regulations.
According to the statement, many of the violations are allegedly enabled by certain fintech companies, a situation the Commission says threatens the integrity of the country’s financial system and endangers citizens’ funds.
“The CAC has observed the rising number of PoS operators running without registration, violating CAMA 2020 and CBN Agent Banking Regulations,” the notice read. “This reckless practice, often enabled by some fintech companies, puts Nigeria’s financial system and citizens’ investments at risk. This must stop.”
The Commission outlined strict enforcement measures to begin on January 1, 2026, stating that:
No POS operator will be allowed to operate without CAC registration.
Security agencies will be deployed nationwide to ensure compliance.
Unregistered POS terminals will be seized or shut down.
Fintech firms aiding unregistered operators will be placed on a watchlist and reported to the CBN.
The CAC urged all operators to commence immediate registration to avoid sanctions, emphasising that compliance is “mandatory.”
The directive comes amid growing reliance on POS agents for financial transactions nationwide, particularly in communities with limited banking infrastructure. The CAC’s enforcement is expected to significantly reshape operations within the agent banking sector as the deadline approaches.
