- CBN to Introduce New Policy to Regulate Debit Card Issuance, ATM Operations
- Regulation aims to reduce ATM congestion and cash shortages.
- Policy may take effect before end of second quarter 2026.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced plans to introduce a new regulatory policy aimed at sanitising debit card issuance and Automated Teller Machine operations across Nigerian banks to address persistent cash access challenges nationwide.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the apex bank disclosed this on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the 2026 Committee of Heads of Bank Operations Conference.
Speaking on behalf of the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, his Special Adviser, Mr Fatai Karim, said the proposed policy would ensure that the number of debit cards issued by banks aligns with the ATM infrastructure they have deployed.
According to him, the initiative is designed to reduce congestion at ATM points, minimise frequent machine downtime and promote a more balanced distribution of cash across the country.
“Very soon, the Central Bank will be coming up with another policy to sanitise and improve the situation, particularly around how many cards banks issue relative to the number of ATMs they support,” Karim said.
The CBN noted that recurring ATM failures and frequent cash shortages have continued to undermine public confidence in electronic payment channels, despite the steady growth of digital transactions within the banking sector.
It warned that prolonged service disruptions weaken trust in Nigeria’s payment infrastructure and negatively affect financial inclusion efforts.
“When cash access fails, whether due to prolonged ATM outages or uneven distribution, the credibility of the entire payment system is weakened,” the apex bank stated.
Karim disclosed that the CBN is currently engaging stakeholders across the banking industry to fine tune the framework for the proposed regulation.
He added that the policy is expected to take effect within the next few months and could be implemented before the end of the second quarter of 2026.
The proposed regulation is expected to improve ATM reliability, enhance cash availability and help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electronic payment system.
