CBN introduces regulatory guidelines on eNaira
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the regulatory guideline on the eNaria.
The documents, titled, “regulatory guidelines on the eNaira” said “the guidelines shall apply to all financial institutions and users of the eNaira.
“During the onboarding process, users shall have the option to disclose whether the eNaira wallet being created will be operated for self or as trustees.”
The document reads, “The Central Bank of Nigeria, under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007 and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, is empowered to issue legal tender currency, ensure financial system and promote the development of electronic payments system. The Bank, in furtherance of its mandate, hereby issues the following guidelines for the operation of the eNaira.
“The eNaira is the digital form of the Naira, issued by the CBN in line with Section 19 of the CBN Act. It is a direct liability of the Bank, a legal tender and will form part of the currency in circulation and will be at par with the physical Naira (that is 1:1)./
“The eNaira shall complement traditional Naira as a less costly, more efficient, generally acceptable, safe and trusted means of payment. In addition, it will improve monetary policy effectiveness, enhance the government’s capacity to deploy targeted social interventions and boost remittances through formal channels.
“The eNaira wallet is required to access, use and hold eNaira. The eNaira will be exchangeable for other Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC).”
The CBN’s Director of Communication, Mr Osita Nwanisobi had announced a postponement of the launch of Nigeria’s digital currency, the eNaira, previously scheduled to hold on October 1, 2021.
However, the unanticipated surge in visits on the website of the Central Bank’s eNaira initiative led to the sudden postponement of the launch.
Amid heated litigation over its trademark infringement on the name ‘eNaira,’ a Federal High Court in Abuja has given the nod for the CBN’s rollout of its digital currency.
