The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to roll out a new regulatory framework to streamline debit card issuance and improve ATM operations nationwide, aimed at tackling persistent cash access problems.
CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso, represented by his Special Adviser, Fatai Karim, disclosed the plan on Friday at the 2026 Committee of Heads of Bank Operations Conference.
According to the apex bank, the new policy will require banks to align the number of debit cards they issue with the ATM infrastructure they have deployed. The measure is expected to reduce congestion, minimise downtime, and ensure more equitable cash distribution across the country.
The CBN noted that frequent ATM breakdowns and cash shortages have eroded public confidence in electronic payment systems, despite the rapid growth of digital transactions.
“Very soon, the Central Bank will be coming up with another policy to sanitise and improve the situation, particularly around how many cards banks issue relative to the number of ATMs they support. When cash access fails, whether due to prolonged ATM outages or uneven distribution, the credibility of the entire payment system is weakened,” the bank said.