CBN launches website for eNaira, Nigeria’s first digital currency

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has launched a website for the operations of eNaira, the country’s first digital currency.

The website, www.enaira.com, started running on Monday, though still at the development stage, according to checks by TheCable.

Some of the details on the website are yet to be hyperlinked, while some features are not yet active.

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the CBN, had said the pilot scheme of eNaira would kick off on October 1, 2021.

“We have all the approvals and mandates to launch on October 1, but it is important to understand that eNaira is not a one-off, it’s a journey that starts on October 1,” Emefiele said during the last monetary policy committee meeting.

“From October 1, a Nigerian will be able to download the eNaira app from either Google Play Store or App Store, fund their eNaira wallet using their bank accounts or with cash at a registered agent, location.”

Osita Nwanisobi, spokesperson of the CBN, confirmed the uniform resource locators (URL) address to TheCable on Monday — but did not state further details.

Url is a reference (or address) to a resource on the internet.

According to the website, eNaira would aid cash distribution in the government’s social welfare programmes.

“eNaira is a Central Bank of Nigeria-issued digital currency that provides a unique form of money denominated in Naira,” details on the website read.

“eNaira serves as both a medium of exchange and a store of value, offering better payment prospects in retail transactions when compared to cash payments. eNaira has an exclusive operational structure that is both remarkable and nothing like other forms of central bank money.”

Bitt Inc., a Barbados-based company is the apex bank’s technical partner in digital currency operations.