The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to introduce a new regulatory policy aimed at sanitising debit card issuance and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) operations across Nigerian banks in order to tackle persistent cash access challenges nationwide.

The apex bank made this known on Friday, January 23, at the 2026 Committee of Heads of Bank Operations Conference.

Speaking on behalf of the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, his Special Adviser, Fatai Karim, stated that the proposed policy would ensure the number of debit cards issued by banks corresponds with the ATM infrastructure they have deployed.

According to him, the move is designed to reduce congestion at ATM points, minimise machine downtime, and ensure a more even distribution of cash across the country.

“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,” the apex bank said.

The CBN noted that recurring ATM failures and frequent cash shortages have continued to erode public confidence in electronic payment channels, despite the rapid growth of digital transactions in the banking sector.

It warned that persistent service disruptions weaken trust in the country’s payment infrastructure.

“When cash access fails, whether due to prolonged ATM outages or uneven distribution, the credibility of the entire payment system is weakened,” the bank added.

Karim disclosed that the CBN is currently engaging stakeholders across the banking industry to fine-tune the framework for the new policy.

He added that the regulation is expected to take effect within the next few months and could be implemented before the end of the second quarter of 2026.

The proposed regulation is expected to improve ATM reliability, enhance cash availability, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electronic payment system.