Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso has disclosed that the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) will by December launch a non-resident BVN platform.
The platform will enable Nigerians in the diaspora operate their local bank accounts, run their businesses and sort out KYC issues with financial institutions from anywhere in the world.
Cardoso disclosed this during a parley with members of the Nigerian community on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF meeting in Washington D.C United States.
He said the initiative is part of efforts to ensure that Nigerians irrespective of their location anywhere in the world can participate in the Nigerian economy without any hassles and diversify their businesses.
“As far as we are concerned it is totally unacceptable that you should be out here and be having hassles in operating your accounts or doing your business in your original country. I want to tell you that starting in December 2024, Nigerians in the diaspora will no longer face the hurdle of traveling long distances for physical biometric verifications to access financial services.”
According to Cardoso, the launch of the non-resident BVN platform by NIBBS will enable enhanced KYC processes remotely, making it more convenient and cost-effective for the diaspora to engage with the Nigerian banking system. “This initiative in collaboration with our banks marks a significant step toward greater financial inclusion and accessibility as we continue to roll out innovative solutions,” he added.
Currently, Nigerians living in the diaspora must register with OIS Services, VFS Global or Avantech services which are only available in a few locations in selected countries and get their BVN done. Also, getting BVN from these platforms which are licensed by the NIBSS comes with a $45 fee.