CBN and Brazil’s Central Bank Strengthen Cooperation on Remittances and Fintech Opportunities

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Banco Central do Brasil (Brazil’s Central Bank) have initiated fresh dialogues to enhance economic and financial collaboration between Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, and Brazil, Latin America’s biggest market. During the meeting, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso highlighted that Brazil’s large Afro-Brazilian community—considered the biggest population of African descent outside the African continent—presents not only strong cultural ties but also a significant opportunity to increase remittance flows between Nigeria and Brazil. The discussion took place on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil and was part of a wider working mission designed to strengthen institutional and technical cooperation with the South American nation. Cardoso emphasized that both countries stand to gain substantially through knowledge-sharing and collaboration in digital finance, payments infrastructure, fintech innovation, and mobile money services. He stated: “Nigeria is building a stronger, more resilient financial system aimed at attracting capital, leveraging diaspora remittances, and creating a stable environment that encourages sustainable trade and investment.” The CBN Governor further explained that Brazil’s vast experience in financial inclusion policies offers Nigeria valuable lessons, while Nigeria’s rapidly growing fintech industry can also share innovative approaches that could benefit Brazil. “Brazil’s expertise in driving financial inclusion provides critical lessons, just as Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem offers insights and solutions that can be adapted in Brazil,” Cardoso remarked. On his part, Gabriel Muricca Galípolo, President of Brazil’s Central Bank, welcomed the dialogue and reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment to broadening financial cooperation with Nigeria. He described the engagement as a strategic step toward promoting financial stability, economic resilience, and mutual prosperity between the two nations. Beyond the high-level talks, the Nigerian delegation participated in several technical sessions with Brazilian counterparts. These discussions covered monetary policy frameworks, financial stability mechanisms, and regulatory cooperation strategies aimed at aligning both countries’ financial systems for future collaboration. The CBN Governor was accompanied by directors overseeing currency operations, financial policy regulation, and monetary policy, underscoring the importance Nigeria attaches to the partnership. This emerging partnership between Nigeria and Brazil signals a new era of financial diplomacy, with potential benefits for trade, remittances, fintech growth, and diaspora engagement.

Nigeria’s E-Payment Transactions Surge by 59% to N284.4 Trillion in 2024

Nigeria’s e-payment transactions surged by 59% YoY to N284.4 trillion in 2024. Discover key insights into NIP, Mobile Money trends, and fraud cases. Overview of E-Payment Growth in Nigeria Nigeria’s electronic payment sector witnessed significant growth in 2024, with transaction values soaring by 59.3% year-on-year (YoY) to N284.4 trillion, compared to N178.5 trillion recorded in 2023. This surge underscores the increasing adoption of digital financial services across the country. Breakdown of E-Payment Transactions According to data from the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) platform recorded the highest e-payment transaction volume and value in 2024: Following NIP transactions, Mobile Money Operators (MMOs) contributed significantly to the digital payment landscape with: Year-on-Year (YoY) Comparison A further breakdown of transaction trends in 2024 compared to 2023 highlights key changes: Fraud Trends in E-Payment Transactions Despite the impressive growth in digital transactions, fraud remains a critical concern. The NIBSS 2023 Fraud Landscape Report revealed that: Conclusion Nigeria’s e-payment sector continues to expand rapidly, driven by increased reliance on digital transactions. However, with the rising adoption of mobile payments and instant transfers, stakeholders must enhance fraud prevention measures to sustain this growth. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.