ABUJA — In a decisive move to curb systemic extortion and restore public confidence, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has issued a nationwide directive banning Point-of-Sale (POS) operators from operating within 200 metres of any police station or formation in Nigeria. The order, contained in a wireless message circulated to all commands, signals a zero-tolerance approach to the use of mobile money agents as conduits for illicit financial dealings.

Cracking Down on "Digital Bribery"

The Force Headquarters noted with "utmost dismay" the alarming proliferation of POS kiosks situated directly outside police premises. Investigations and public complaints suggest that these outlets have increasingly become tools for:

  • Forced Transfers: Allegations that some officers compel suspects or their relatives to withdraw or transfer cash via nearby agents to avoid digital footprints in the banking system.

  • Illegal Settlements: The use of third-party POS operators to mask the trail of bribery and administrative extortion within police facilities.

  • Compromised Reforms: The presence of these agents has been cited as a major obstacle to the Force’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency and accountability.

Command Responsibility: Heads to Roll for Breaches

The IGP’s directive places the burden of enforcement squarely on senior leadership. Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), and divisional heads have been warned that they will be held "vicariously liable" for any POS activity recorded within the 200-metre radius of their formations.

This internal accountability mechanism is intended to ensure that the ban is not merely symbolic. Local station officers are now mandated to clear their immediate surroundings of all financial service kiosks, with non-compliance potentially resulting in severe disciplinary action for the commanding officers in charge of those jurisdictions.

Public Trust and Security Analysis

Security analysts have largely lauded the move as a long-overdue intervention. For years, the "POS at the gate" phenomenon has been a visual symbol of street-level corruption in Nigeria. By removing these agents from the immediate vicinity of police stations, the Force aims to disrupt the ease with which illegal financial transactions are conducted during encounters with the public.

"This is a structural strike against extortion," says one Lagos-based security consultant. "When you remove the 'ATM' from the crime scene, you make it significantly harder for rogue elements within the Force to demand immediate, untraceable cash payments from vulnerable civilians."

The ban is expected to be enforced immediately across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, marking a significant milestone in IGP Tunji Disu’s reform agenda for 2026.