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Nigeria POS Withdrawal Charges

Tariffs & CBN rules verified 22 June 2026

How much is the POS charge for ₦10,000 in Nigeria in 2026?

The official operator tariff is 0.5% (₦50 on ₦10,000). But the POS agent charges you their own markup: typically ₦200–₦400 (~2-4%), more when cash is scarce. That markup is not capped by the CBN — verified 22 June 2026.

₦
ProviderOperator tariffWhat an agent charges you
MPMoniepoint₦50₦200–₦400
OPOPay₦50₦200–₦400
PPPalmPay₦50₦200–₦400

"Operator tariff" is the firm 0.5% processor cost (flat ₦100 above ₦20,000). "What an agent charges you" is the typical street markup — about ₦100–₦200 per ₦5,000 (~2–4%), higher when cash is scarce. It is NOT capped by the CBN and varies by agent, location and time.

The regulated fee vs what you actually pay

The firm number
Operator tariff: 0.5%

Moniepoint, OPay and PalmPay charge the agent 0.5% on withdrawals up to ₦20,000, then a flat ₦100 above. That is the real processor cost.

What you actually pay
Agent markup: ~2-4% (varies)

The agent adds their own markup — typically ₦100–₦200 per ₦5,000, rising 50-100% when cash is scarce. It is not a fixed number and is not capped by the CBN.

A common misconception: many think the CBN caps the POS withdrawal fee. It does not. What the CBN regulates is the 0.5% Merchant Service Charge on card payments — capped at ₦10,000 and free to the cardholder. The cash-withdrawal markup is set by the agent, which is exactly why it floats with cash availability. It is the same official-vs-street gap that drives the naira parallel-market premium. See the naira parallel rate →

The 2026 CBN cash rules (new this year)

Weekly cash limit (from 1 Jan 2026): ₦500,000/week for individuals, ₦5,000,000/week for corporates, across all channels (ATM, POS, branch). ATM is capped ₦100,000/day.

Over the limit: a 3% processing fee on the excess (individuals; 5% corporates), split 40% CBN / 60% bank. The old special-authorisation regime was scrapped.

Agent-banking rules (since Oct 2025): a ₦1,200,000 daily cumulative limit per POS agent, ₦100,000 maximum per customer per day, agents tied to one principal (from 1 Apr 2026), and banks must publish verified agent lists.

Source: CBN circular 2 Dec 2025 (R. Sike, FPRD); agent-banking circular PSP/DIR/CON/CWO/001/049, 6 Oct 2025 (M. Jimoh).

Which POS charges less — Moniepoint, OPay or PalmPay?

On the operator tariff, the three are effectively identical — all charge 0.5% up to ₦20,000 and a flat ₦100 above. So the provider you pick barely changes the official cost; what actually changes your bill is the individual agent's markup. The practical advice: don't chase a "cheaper app", compare the agent's posted rate per ₦5,000 before you withdraw, and avoid the highest-markup agents during cash scarcity.

Per-provider tariff sources: Moniepoint — Moniepoint agent tariff (Swiftbills / BizCase, 2025-26); OPay — OPay POS tariff (BANKiBUSINESS / Swiftbills, 2025-26); PalmPay — PalmPay POS tariff (new structure since 30 Nov 2024). Agent markup: The Cable / TechEconomy / Daily Trust (dated reporting, 2025-26).

Cheaper ways to get your cash
Mobile money fees (cash-out)Naira parallel rateUSD → NGN rate

Frequently asked questions

How much is the POS charge for ₦10,000 in Nigeria?+
The operator tariff (Moniepoint/OPay/PalmPay) is 0.5% — about ₦50 on ₦10,000. But in practice the agent charges you their markup: typically ₦200–₦400 (~2-4%), and more when cash is scarce. That markup is not capped by the CBN.
Is the POS charge legal?+
The 0.5% operator tariff is real, but the markup the agent adds on top is not capped by the CBN for cash withdrawals. The CBN only regulates the 0.5% Merchant Service Charge (MSC) on card payments — capped at ₦10,000 and free to the cardholder — not the cash-out.
What is the CBN withdrawal limit in 2026?+
From 1 January 2026: ₦500,000/week for individuals (₦5,000,000 for corporates), across all channels; ₦100,000/day at ATMs. Above the limit a 3% processing fee applies to the excess.
Why are POS charges so high?+
Because the agent adds their own markup on top of the 0.5% processor tariff, and that markup spikes when cash is scarce (up to 50-100% higher). The same cash scarcity that inflates POS charges also widens the naira parallel-market premium — related stories.