E-Financial
CBN Unveils New Anti-electronic Fraud Strategy
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have raved up its anti-electronic fraud campaign with the emergence of a two-factor authentication for internal banking.
The initiative was scripted as a foil to the spate of electronic fraud in recent times, which facilitating factor has also been traced increased insider abuse.
The apex bank, in a circular titled “Implementation of Two-Factor Authentication for Internal Banking,” pointed out that the abuse revolves around identity theft and abuse of authorization.
It also noted that the increased use of automation in most banking payment processes has further escalated insider abuse in banks with weak authentication procedures.
Given the developments, CBN said it has become necessary to reassess and issue new directives to all Deposit Money Banks in the country.
The bank therefore, directed DMBs to implement a “Maker/Checker” control structure for all payment platforms, including account and database system maintenances on core banking systems.
“The risk appetite/capacity of individual banks will be a key factor in considering transaction limits for maker/checker roles and DMBs are expected to comply by December 31, 2015,” the circular noted.
DMBs should also implement a two-factor authentication at login points for applications driving transfers, withdrawal, deposit, standing order, account maintenance and system maintenance processes.
However, an implementation plan should be submitted to the apex bank by January 30, 2015, with full compliance to the plans by December 31, 2015, with a penalty of N50,000 daily for defaulting banks.
Also, all the payment processing gateways and third party processors are to implement fraud-monitoring tool to check transfers from an account to multiple bank accounts, with December 31, 2015, deadline.
More so, Dipo Fatokun, director, Banking and Payments System Department, CBN, said the occurrence of Card Present Fraud in non-EMV environments is on the increase, especially when international hybrid cards issued by Nigerian banks are used in non-EMV country like the United States of America.
According to him, as a measure to finding solutions to the challenge, the apex bank has directed all the DMBs to collate all their card frauds abroad and send to CBN not later than January 30, 2015, while subsequent card fraud occurring abroad should be rendered on the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) fraud portal.
They should also implement anti-fraud solution on their cards management system, not later than January 30, 2015, as well as ensure that from February 01, 2015, only customers that expressly indicated their intension of travelling to non-EMV jurisdictions, would have their cards default to the magnetic stripe and for the period indicated by the cardholder only.
There is also an obligation on the banks to ensure that their customers are adequately educated on the developments and carry out regular awareness campaign to cardholders on how to avoid fraud in non-EMV environment.
All the DMBs must ensure strict compliance to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and their vendors/partners involved in card processing activities.
However, all the DMBs will henceforth be liable to make refund on the card fraud abroad, unless they have implemented the anti-fraud solution on their cards and comply with PCIDSS, alongside their vendors/partners.
E-Financial
First Securities Brokers Empowers Nigerians to Trade in the Stock Market with the Launch of FirstInvest App
First Securities Brokers, one of Nigeria’s leading stockbroking firms and a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc, is pleased to announce the official launch of the FirstInvest App, an innovative mobile investment platform designed to make stock market investing simpler, faster, and more accessible for Nigerians.
The FirstInvest App offers investors a seamless digital experience, enabling them to open and manage their investment accounts, monitor their portfolios, and trade equities listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) directly from their mobile devices.
Designed with both new and experienced investors in mind, the platform combines convenience, security, and ease of use to help users make informed investment decisions anytime and anywhere.
As Nigeria continues to embrace digital financial services, the FirstInvest App reinforces First Securities Brokers’ commitment to driving financial inclusion and expanding access to wealth creation opportunities through technology.
Speaking on the launch, Fiona Ahmed Ahimie, Managing Director of First Securities Brokers, said: “The launch of the FirstInvest App represents another significant milestone in our digital transformation journey and our commitment to delivering innovative investment solutions to our clients.
“We understand that today’s investors value convenience, speed, and accessibility. FirstInvest has been developed to provide exactly that: a secure and intuitive platform that empowers individuals to participate confidently in the capital market from wherever they are.”
She added: “Our goal is to remove the traditional barriers associated with investing by placing the power of timely investment and decision making in the stock market directly in the hands of Nigerians. Whether you are taking your first investment step, actively managing your portfolio or just evaluating your investment, FirstInvest provides the tools and flexibility needed to support your financial aspirations.”
The app delivers a range of features designed to enhance your investing experience, including: Secure digital account opening and onboarding, Real-time access to investment portfolios, Buy and sell Nigerian equities with ease, User-friendly trading interface, Secure transaction processing, Convenient access to market information and investment opportunities.
The launch of FirstInvest aligns with First Securities Brokers’ broader strategy of leveraging technology to improve customer experience while supporting the growth of retail participation in Nigeria’s capital market.
First Securities Brokers remains committed to providing trusted investment advisory services, innovative financial solutions, and exceptional customer service, helping clients build and preserve wealth across generations. The FirstInvest App is now available for download on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
The next currency crisis could accelerate the shift of the roughly $315 billion global stablecoin market into a digital-dollar alternative for citizens in emerging economies, notably in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
As local fiat currencies face devaluation and high inflation, citizens and businesses are increasingly utilizing smartphone-based stablecoins (such as USDT and USDC) as hedges and primary mediums of exchange.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the rapid adoption of dollar-linked digital assets—particularly in countries heavily affected by inflation like Nigeria—poses significant risks to monetary sovereignty.
With up to 95% of surveyed individuals in some African markets preferring to receive payments in stablecoins over local fiat, the rising volume of these decentralized, cross-border channels weakens domestic currency demand and dilutes the effectiveness of local monetary policy.
IMF observed in a report titled “Stablecoins in Nigeria: A Growing Cross-Border Channel” noted that the widespread use of stablecoins poses risks to monetary sovereignty, particularly as more individuals and businesses turn to digital dollar-linked assets for savings and transactions.
Nodding in agreement is Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII Institute), a non-profit organisation run by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s main sovereign wealth fund.
FII Institute said that central banks face structural challenges.
And according to the institute, when citizens move savings out of national banks and into private digital wallets, conventional capital controls lose their grip.
Institutions like the Bank for International Settlements warn that interest-bearing stablecoins compete directly with domestic-currency deposits, complicating financial oversight and making smartphone-based transfers incredibly difficult for authorities to monitor.
In Nigeria, Naira depreciation has pushed users toward dollar-stablecoins, according to report by Gino Matos in cryptoslate.com.
A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a steady value by pegging its price to a reserve asset, such as a fiat currency (e.g., the U.S. dollar) or a commodity (e.g., gold).
They act as a bridge between traditional money and the digital asset world, providing the speed of crypto without the extreme price swings of assets like Bitcoin.
Federal government has reopened three federal government of Nigeria (FGN) bond issues valued at N1.2 trillion for subscription as part of efforts to raise long-term funds from the domestic debt market.
The Debt Management Office (DMO), which announced the offer on Tuesday, said the three reopened bond issues are each valued at N400 billion.
According to the DMO, the first offer is the January 2035 FGN Bond, a 10-year reopening, carrying an interest rate of 22.60 per cent per annum.
The second is the May 2028 FGN Bond, a 15-year reopening, with a coupon rate of 15.45 per cent per annum, while the third is the June 2037 FGN Bond, a 20-year reopening, also valued at N400 billion.
The office said the bond auction is scheduled for July 20, while successful subscriptions will be settled on July 22.
It explained that the bonds are offered at N1,000 per unit, with a minimum subscription of N50 million and additional investments in multiples of N1,000.
For the reopened bonds, the DMO said successful bidders would pay a price based on the yield-to-maturity that clears the auction, in addition to any accrued interest on the instruments.
Interest on the bonds will be paid every six months, while the principal will be repaid in full on the respective maturity dates.
The DMO reaffirmed that FGN bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government and constitute obligations chargeable on the general assets of the federation.
It added that the bonds qualify as trustee investment securities under the Trustee Investment Act and enjoy tax exemptions for eligible investors, including pension funds, under the Company Income Tax Act and Personal Income Tax Act.
The bonds are listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and FMDQ Securities Exchange and also qualify as liquid assets for banks in computing their liquidity ratios.
FGN bonds are long-term debt instruments through which investors lend money to the Federal Government in exchange for periodic interest payments and repayment of the principal at maturity.
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