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(WU) How to send money through Western Union & Recent CBN Guideline

I want to use this post to guide you on how send money through western union from Nigeria and to answer all the questions that were asked on this article; how to send money from Nigeria to another country as regards to the recent CBN policy changes on Western Union money transfer service.

August last year, many Nigerians at home and in Diaspora were rejoicing over the introduction of the revised guidelines for International Money Transfer Services by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which allows provision of Outbound Money Transfer services in the country. With the provision of outbound money transfer service, sending or transferring money through western union from Nigeria now becomes possible and easy because you can receive and send money all over the world through WESTERN UNION TRANSFER from Nigeria.

However, just recently; the government introduce a new policy changes on Outbound Money Transfer services. This new policy changes has really affect the rate and volume of money transferable through Western Union. I just hope we are not going back to status quo. I am particularly concerned with Nigerians abroad who may need huge amount of money from their relatives and friends at home and those whose major business is importations.

In one of my earlier article, I showed you how to transfer money from Nigeria to abroad. Today, in this post; I will show you how to send money through Western Union from Nigeria while I emphasis on the recent CBN guideline on outbound money transfer services.

How to send money through Western Union from Nigeria

Things needed for sending money via western union from Nigeria
To send money through western Union from Nigeria, you need the following items;

• the receiver’s location
• Identification
• the cash

Steps to follow when sending money through western union from Nigeria;
1. Visit a Western Union Agent Location
or you can use western union online Agent locator to find an agent near you.

Western Union Agents in Nigeria

The following Nigeria banks below serve as agents to Western Union;

• Access Bank Plc
Website: www.accessbankplc.com
Address: Plot 999c, Danmole Street, Off Adeola Odeku/Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos

• Citibank Nigeria Limited
Website: www.citibank.com
Address: 85 Allen Ave ,Ikeja, Lagos
phone: 01 774 0125

• Diamond Bank Plc
Website: diamondbank.com
Address: 1261 Adeola Hopewell St, Lagos
Phone: 0700 300 0000

• Ecobank Nigeria Plc
Website: www.ecobank.com/
Address: No. 21, Ahmadu Bello Way Branch, Kofo Abayomi St, Lagos
phone: 0704 145 0580

• Enterprise Bank
Website: web.entbankng.com
Address: 9, Wemco Road, Ogba, Lagos
Phone: 01 893 6517

• First Bank of Nigeria Plc
Webite: www.firstbanknigeria.com
Shop No. 1 & 2, First Floor, Block 2, Agric, Odun Ade, Coker, Lagos
Phone: 01 877 7734

• Guaranty Trust Bank Plc
Website: www.gtbank.com
Address: Mei Hotels And Airport Services Limited, Ajao Estate, Lagos
phone: 0805 550 308

• Heritage Banking Company Ltd.
Website: www.hbng.com
Address: 292B Ajose Adeogun St
Phone 01 236 9000

• Key Stone Bank
Website: www.keystonebankng.com
Address: 1 Keystone Bank Crescent, off Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Phone: +234-1-4485

• Main Street Bank
Website: www.mainstreetbanklimited.com
Address: ATM, Fiiro
phone: 0703 412 9955

• Skye Bank Plc
Website: https://www.skyebankng.com

• Stanbic IBTC Bank Ltd.
Website: www.stanbicibtcbank.com
Address: Ojuwoye, Agege Motor Rd

• Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd.
Website: https://www.sc.com/ng
Address: 105B Ajose Adeogun St, Lagos
phone: 01 270 0025

• Sterling Bank Plc
Website: www.sterlingbankng.com
Address: 47, John St., Oke Arin Shopping Complex. Oke arin
Phone: 01 448 4481

• Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
Website: www.unionbankng.com
Address: Zone B, Aspamda Main Gate, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos 101241
Phone:077 489 51

• First City Monument Bank Plc
Website: www.fcmb.com

• United Bank For Africa Plc
Website: www.ubaplc.com
Address: 57, Marina, Lagos
Phone: +234 1 2644651-700, 4701416, 2642284

• Unity Bank Plc
Website: www.unitybankng.com
Address: Plot 497, Central Business District, Abogo Largema Street, Abuja Phone: +234 9 6701082-9

• Wema Bank Plc
Website: www.wemabank.com
Address: 54 Marina P.M.B. 12862 Lagos
Phone: +234-1-2778600

• Zenith Bank Plc
Website: www.zenithbank.com
56 Oba Akran Ave, Ikeja, Lagos

• Fidelity Bank
Website: https:// www.fidelitybankplc.com
Address: Close, 2, Kofo Abayomi Street, P. O. Box 72439, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Phone: 234-01-2610408-12

Among these banks, the only Nigeria bank I know that offers Outbound Money Transfer services of sending money from Nigeria to other countries through western union as of the time this article is written is FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc; others are limited to provision of Inbound Money Transfer Services. First Bank was licensed by CBN and commenced the outward sending of Naira to other countries via Western Union since September 2014.

2. Visit any Firstbank of Nigeria nearest to you

3. Head straight to their customer service desk and tell them you want to send money from Nigeria to United State, London, India, Cameroun, in fact anywhere you want. You will be redirected to right desk.

4. Some forms will be given to you to fill-in the recipient’s personal information, bank account details and the amount you want to send. Fill the form properly and wherever you are confused, ask questions.

All currency conversion will be done by Firstbank, so no need to worry about currency exchange rate For example if you are to send money from Nigeria to UK, Firstbank will help you convert your naira amount to its equivalent pound sterling (£ / GBP) before sending the money. . It is good you know the exchange rate, so you can ask.

5. Present your government issued ID card (where applicable) and the cash you want to send out.

6. Collect your receipt, the money transfer control number (MTCN) and save your secret question where applicable.

Recent CBN Guideline, Restriction and Special note on Western Union Money Transfer

• Maximum transfer limit (in dollars ) is $1000 in every 3 months
• Maximum transfer limit (in Naira) is ₦190, 000 in every 3 months
• Transfer charges is ₦16, 800 for $1000 or ₦190, 000
• Total amount transferable in every 3 months is ₦206800

These are maximum transfer limit through Western Union in Nigeria as of the time this article is written. I will update this article once there is a change on the restrictions and government policy on outbound money transfer.

Formally, it is possible to send or transfer up to $10, 000 dollars every month through Western Union but now it is no longer so….

You can visit the official Western union website; www.westernunion. ng for more information or you can use the comment box below to ask your questions and comments

10 thoughts on “(WU) How to send money through Western Union & Recent CBN Guideline”

  1. What is the US$ limited someone can receive in Nigeria through Western Union by cash and what time frame are they limited to? I am sending US$ from Canada and often Western Union Nigeria says he has exceeded his limit and the money is returned to me, but no one will give us a criteria. The amounts each month have varied considerably so am unable to determine what the criteria is.

    1. That’s Western union issues. It has nothing to do with the amount of US$ one can receive in Nigeria. One can receive up $10,000 in Nigeria per week. I will suggest you try another means.

  2. How can someone send me money from Nigeria to United States America.. The person said 40 us dollars is 12,610 dollars…does this mean this person would have to take 12,610 out their pocket to send to me through western union

  3. Thanks so much regarding how to send money via western union while observing the limit set by CBN. However, if I intend to send 13,000 USD by mobilising 13 different person to help me send the money to the same account, will it be an offence since a person can only send 1,000 USD per quarter?

      1. Hi Emma,thanks for your useful tip.am planning to pay about 300euros for tuition in Germany, and Iam to receive about 1125 euros from the school payable to me .what options are the cheapest and best bet for me.I do not have a domiciliary account.

  4. Hello. Thanks for this article, very helpful stuff. Please do you by any chance have the link to the guideline? or a copy of it? The one that specifies the $1000 limit per quarter. I wpuld be very much grateful if I can lay my hands on it. Many thanks.

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