The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all acquirers, processors, and payment terminal service providers (PTSPs) to establish mandatory dual connectivity with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Unified Payment Services Limited (UPSL) for all point-of-sale (PoS) transactions.

The directive, outlined in a circular dated December 11, 2025, and signed by Rakiya Yusuf, Director of the Payments System Supervision Department, requires compliance within one month.

According to the circular, “All acquirers, processors, and PTSPs shall maintain active connectivity with both licensed Payments Terminal Service Aggregators (PTSAs), namely NIBSS and UPSL.” The measure aims to ensure automatic failover during service disruptions, guaranteeing uninterrupted PoS operations across the country.

The CBN further mandated that transaction routing systems integrate with both PTSAs, while periodic tests will be conducted in collaboration with regulated financial institutions to assess system resilience and failover effectiveness.

“NIBSS and UPSL are required to notify the Director, Payments System Supervision Department, of any system downtime or service disruption within 24 hours, detailing the cause and remedial measures taken,” the circular added.

This latest directive follows the CBN’s September 11, 2025, order instructing payment service providers to route all PoS terminal transactions at merchant and agent locations through both NIBSS and UPSL.

The move underscores the apex bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s payments infrastructure and ensuring seamless electronic transactions for businesses and consumers nationwide.