CAC Announces New Deadline for All POS Operators Registration After CBN New Rules

• The CAC has announced January 1, 2026, as the final enforcement date for mandatory registration of all PoS operators in Nigeria
• The commission has drafted security agencies for enforcement and they will seize unregistered terminals and fintechs enabling illegal PoS activities may be watchlisted and reported to CBN
• The CBN has also introduced new geo-tagging rules; PoS devices must operate within a registered location or risk being disabled

Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of experience in business journalism, with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has issued a new compliance deadline for the registration of all Point of Sale (PoS) operators in Nigeria, setting January 1, 2026, as the enforcement date for mandatory CAC registration across the country

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The move, the Commission said, is aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s rapidly expanding PoS sector and curbing risks associated with unregistered operators.

In a notice endorsed by its management, the CAC raised alarms over the growing presence of PoS operators running without registration in breach of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 and CBN agent banking rules.

It warned that the surge of unregistered agents, sometimes supported by certain fintech platforms, threatens financial system stability and increases the likelihood of fraud and loss for users.

No registration, no POS business

CAC said that from January 1, 2026, no PoS operator will be allowed to function without proper CAC registration, Punch reports.

Security agencies have also been directed to enforce nationwide compliance through seizure and shutdown of unregistered terminals, constant monitoring of non-compliant agents, and watchlisting of fintech companies facilitating illegal operations, with reports forwarded to the CBN.

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Part of the notice reads:

“This reckless practice, often enabled by some fintech companies, puts Nigeria’s financial system and citizens’ investments at risk and must stop. From January 1, 2026, no PoS operator will be allowed to operate without CAC registration. Unregistered terminals will be seized or shut down by security officials.

"Fintechs enabling illegal operations will be placed on a watchlist and reported to the CBN. All operators are advised to regularize immediately. Compliance is mandatory.”

The Commission urged agents, super agents and aggregators to complete their registration without delay, Vanguard reports.

Why enforcement from January 1

The enforcement announcement follows earlier deadlines. In July 2024, the CAC extended an initial registration window from July 7 to September 5.

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By September 2024, the Commission again cautioned operators after low compliance levels, stressing that registration would enhance accountability, reduce fraud, and protect consumers in the agent banking sector.

CBN set new POS rules

In a related development, the Central Bank of Nigeria has rolled out fresh rules for PoS terminal management.

In a circular issued on August 25, 2025, the CBN ordered banks and fintechs including Moniepoint, OPay, PalmPay and other operators to geo-tag over four million PoS terminals within 60 days. Any device used outside its registered location will be shut down.

Under the policy, PoS machines must be equipped with GPS systems, linked to the National Central Switch through a special software kit, and restricted to a 10-metre radius of the registered business address.

Source: Legit.ng