Business

CBN Urges Banks to Obtain Customers’ Social Media Handles For easy Identification

Published

3 years ago

June 24, 2023

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All Financial institutions across the country have been mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to obtain the social media handles of customers for the purpose of identification.

It also asked financial institutions to obtain e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and residential addresses, among other things, from customers.

This is contained in the new CBN customer due diligence regulations aimed at further strengthening the identification process in the banking system.

These regulations shall apply to all financial institutions under the purview of the CBN, as noted in the document.

The apex bank published the ‘Central Bank of Nigeria (Customer Due Diligence) Regulations, 2023’ document on its website on Friday.

According to the CBN, the new regulation was designed to provide additional customer due diligence measures for financial institutions under its regulatory purview.

The objective of the regulations the apex bank noted includes, “To provide additional customer due diligence measures for financial institutions under the regulatory purview of the Central Bank of Nigeria to further their compliance with relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (MLPPA), 2022, Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (TPPA), 2022, Central Bank of Nigeria (Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Financial Institutions) Regulations, 2022 (CBN AML, CFT and CPF Regulations) and international best practices.

“And enable the CBN to enforce compliance with customer due diligence measures in line with the CBN AML, CFT and CPF Regulations.”

The apex bank, under its customer identification column, said financial institutions must identify their customers (whether permanent or occasional, and whether natural or legal persons or legal arrangements) and obtain the following information:

“For Individuals — legal name and any other names used (such as maiden name), permanent address (full physical address), residential address (where the customer can be located), telephone number, e-mail address, and social media handle; date and place of birth, Bank Verification number; Tax Identification number; nationality; occupation; public position held; and name of employer.”

It also noted that an individual must have “an official personal identification number or other unique identifier contained in an unexpired document issued by a government agency that bears the name, photograph, and signature of the customer, such as a passport, national identification card, residence permit, social security records, or drivers’ license.”

Part of the requirement includes “Type of account and nature of the banking relationship, and signature, and politically exposed person status.

The regulator also maintained that financial institutions shall not establish or keep anonymous accounts, numbered accounts, or accounts in fictitious names.

Related Topics:CBN Customers Featured Social Media Handles

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China Woos Nigeria To Join WAICO Memberships For Technology Advantages

African countries on the memberships list include South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia and Algeria.

Published

1 hour ago

September 24, 2026

OCHEFA

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The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has emphasised the need for Nigeria to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) to share in global tech development.

The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) is an international organization focused on artificial intelligence (AI) established in July 2026. Proposed by China before its 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, it is headquartered in Shanghai and oriented toward the Global South.

Twenty-nine countries signed the founding agreement on 16 July 2026 in Shanghai, followed by eight additional signatories later that month, bringing the total membership to 37 countries.

African countries on the memberships list include South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia and Algeria.

WAICO is believed to have been set up to rival the US-led Pax Silica initiative, aiming to counterbalance Western influence across global supply chains for rare-earth elements, semiconductors, and AI governance.

Ambassador Yu made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during an event celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which shares its October 1st National Day with Nigeria.

Speaking at the evening reception, Ambassador Yu said, ” Those who walk the same path go far. Let us empower development through innovation, openness, and sincere cooperation to continuously enrich China-Nigeria friendship and write a new chapter in China-Africa relations.”

Regarding 55 years of diplomatic ties with Nigeria, Yu noted that both nations have grown closer through mutual respect and shared success.

“Under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our relationship has entered the fast lane,” he said.

Business

Otedola bypasses seven African billionaires as fortune hits $2 billion

The rise also ends his old tag as Africa’s poorest billionaire.

Published

7 hours ago

September 24, 2026

OCHEFA

13 Views

Femi Otedola’s fortune has risen to $2 billion, lifting the First HoldCo chairman above eight other African billionaires on Forbes’ real-time wealth index.

The new valuation is a $700 million jump from the $1.3 billion attributed to him at the start of 2026.

Forbes’ real-time billionaires index now ranks Otedola 2,115th globally, up from $1.8 billion in August.

The rise also ends his old tag as Africa’s poorest billionaire.

Based on the wealth estimates supplied for September 2026, Otedola’s $2 billion places him ahead of eight African billionaires.

They are South Africa’s Christoffel Wiese at $1.9 billion and Egypt’s Youssef Mansour at $1.8 billion.

Morocco’s Othman Benjelloun and family are valued at $1.7 billion, the same as South Africa’s Paul van Zuydam. Morocco’s Aziz Akhannouch and family sit at $1.6 billion.

Egypt’s Samih Sawiris and Yasseen Mansour, alongside Morocco’s Anas Sefrioui and family, complete the eight, each estimated at $1.4 billion.

The comparisons rest on the supplied valuations and can shift with share prices and other assets.