The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted operating licenses to 10 additional international money transfer operators (IMTOs) as part of efforts to boost diaspora remittances. With the new licenses issued, the total number of IMTOs operating in the country now stands at 57.

In an updated post on its website, CBN listed the newly-licensed operators as Transfercorp Limited/VFD Group; Comot Trading Nigeria Limited; Direkt Wire UK Limited; Gabtrans UK Limited in partnership with Moneyto Limited; GDM Transfer PTY Limited; Innovate 1 Pay Limited; Paysend Plc; SANAA Capital LLC (Money4 Diaspora Services LLC); Swift Payment Limited and WI-PAY Global LLC.

The CBN has in recent times been designing policies to encourage further inflows of the foreign currencies.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had said reforms to increase diaspora remittances into the country would support the economy and help reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He had said if the country could have inflows of about $10 billion to $15 billion, this would have a significant effect on the economy amidst the current fiscal constraints.

The central bank has said all diaspora remittances must go through the deposit money banks rather than mortgage or fintech institutions.