Over the past few months, particularly since the start of 2026, Nigerian regulators have rolled out a series of high-impact policies and directives across the financial system.
While some of these measures made headlines at the time they were announced, many quietly introduced significant changes that could affect banks, fintechs, businesses, investors, and millions of consumers.
From new ATM deployment rules and tighter Bank Verification Number (BVN) requirements to fresh cybersecurity obligations and foreign exchange reforms, the regulatory landscape has continued to evolve rapidly.
That is why, for this edition of Regulatory Watch, Nairametrics reviewed some of the most important recent pronouncements from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that could shape banking operations, digital payments, foreign exchange access, and consumer protection in the months ahead.
A few days ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria revised its guidelines on Personal Travel Allowance (PTA) and Business Travel Allowance (BTA), allowing 25% of approved foreign exchange disbursements to be paid in cash.
- Under the revised framework, the remaining 75% of PTA and BTA disbursements must be processed electronically. According to the apex bank, the adjustment was introduced to align travel allowance disbursement procedures with recently updated Bureau De Change (BDC) guidelines.
- The CBN said the move is aimed at reducing operational bottlenecks while improving efficiency for authorised dealers, businesses, and other foreign exchange market participants.
The revision also reflects ongoing efforts by the regulator to balance cash accessibility with broader digital transaction objectives within Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
For travellers and businesses, the policy offers greater flexibility in accessing foreign currency for overseas transactions. For banks and BDC operators, it means adjustments to operational processes and compliance procedures relating to FX disbursement and reporting.
