The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a sweeping enforcement action requiring all Point-of-Sale (POS) operators across Nigeria to register their businesses before January 1, 2026, or risk an immediate shutdown.

In a public notice released by CAC management, the Commission declared that any POS terminal found operating without valid registration after the deadline will be confiscated and the operator sanctioned. The agency described the move as a crucial step to restore order to Nigeria’s fast-growing POS sector.

According to CAC, the directive is rooted in the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which mandates formal registration for any business carrying out commercial operations. The Commission noted that many POS agents have continued to function illegally, exposing financial transactions to fraud and regulatory breaches.The notice further stated that nationwide enforcement teams—including security agencies—will begin compliance checks immediately after the deadline. Any POS business unable to provide CAC certification will be shut down on the spot.

CAC also warned fintech companies such as Opay, Moniepoint, Palmpay and others to ensure their POS agents are properly documented. Fintechs enabling unregistered agents, the Commission said, may be reported to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for regulatory sanctions.

The crackdown follows months of regulatory pressure, as CAC had earlier pushed operators to register, arguing that unregulated POS businesses pose security and financial risks.

With the January deadline now fixed, thousands of POS agents across markets, streets, and rural communities must comply or risk being forced out of business.

The Commission reiterated that registration is simple, affordable, and essential for building a safe, accountable financial ecosystem nationwide.