The Central Bank of Nigeria has revoked the licenses of 4,173 Bureaux De Change Operators.
The apex bank disclosed this in a statement on Friday by the CBN Ag. Director, Corporate Communications, Sidi Ali, Hakama.
It said it was done in exercise of its powers under the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020, Act No. 5, and the Revised Operational Guidelines for Bureaux De Change 2015 (the Guidelines).
The list of affected BDC operators is available on the Bank’s website (www.cbn.gov.ng).
According to the CBN, the affected institutions failed to observe at least one of its regulatory provisions.
The provisions include: “Payment of all necessary fees, including licence renewal, within the stipulated period in line with the Guidelines.
“Rendition of returns in line with the Guidelines.
“Compliance with guidelines, directives and circulars of the CBN, particularly Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and Counter-Proliferation Financing (CPF) regulations.”
The CBN disclosed that it is revising the regulatory and supervisory guidelines for Bureau de Change operations in Nigeria.
It stated that compliance with the new requirements will be mandatory for all stakeholders in the sector when the revised guidelines become effective.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to take note and be guided accordingly,” the apex bank added.
