Nigeria to Ban Cash Withdrawals From Government Accounts

  • Most government cash transactions exceed legal thresholds
  • Steps aimed at curbing illicit activities, reducing cash

Naira banknotes

Photographer: Damilola Onafuwa/Bloomberg
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Nigeria will ban cash withdrawals from government accounts from March 1 to tackle illicit activity and push toward a cashless economy.

About 1.1 trillion naira ($2.4 billion) has been taken out of public accounts in cash since 2015, with most transactions exceeding legal thresholds, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Chief Executive Modibbo Tukur said Thursday.