The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria to obtain the social media handles of their customers for the purpose of identification.
The CBN in the new directive, asked financial institutions to obtain e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and residential addresses from customers.
In a circular posted on its website at the weekend and titled “Central Bank of Nigeria (Customer Due Diligence) Regulations, 2023,” the regulator stated that the new regulation was designed to provide additional customer due diligence measures for financial institutions under its regulatory purview.
“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 said.
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).
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 said financial institutions shall not establish or keep anonymous accounts, numbered accounts, or accounts in fictitious names.
