Following the extension of the deadline for Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration, customers of Nigerian banks living abroad, who are yet to get their BVN, will have to cough out £30 for the exercise between now and December.
This was made known by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Ade Shonubi, during an interactive session with journalists at the weekend.
Shonubi stated that the amount, which translates to N11,000, would be the cost of service being paid to OSI Services, a consulting company to the Nigerian Ministry of External Affairs that is collating data for BVN on behalf of NIBSS and Nigerian banks.
He explained that due to the laws in some countries such as the United Kingdom, which bars taking of data of its citizens outside the country, it had engaged OSI, which currently takes data for the Nigerian government for the purpose of passport renewal. Although the deadline for the BVN registration had been moved to October 31, 2015 to allow Nigerians in diaspora register, Shonubi said NIBSS contract with OSI Services extends till the end of the year.
He, however, noted that Nigerian banks’ customers who wish to register will have to book an appointment with OSI. He noted that this had become necessary after the London Metropolitan Police had intervened after long queues at the OSI office disrupted traffic.
He also revealed that two banks, Diamond and Ecobank have been given the go-ahead to set up desks at their affiliate banks outside the country to gather data. Shonubi noted that Ecobank will be gathering data in the West African region while Diamond Bank will collate data from its affiliates. – The Sun.
