Nigeria Software Guide

Software to Solve Dormant Account Issues in Lagos, Nigeria

Dormant accounts pile up when customers move, change numbers or stop using a product. Here is what the CBN expects from Lagos banks and fintechs, and what dormant account software should do about it.

By Olalekan. Last checked 22 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Entrustt is software for the quiet stage of the dormant account problem. It watches for accounts that have gone silent, contacts the customer, tries the person they named if needed, and keeps a record of every step. This page covers the problem, the rules and what to look for.

Why accounts go dormant

  • The customer changed phone number or email and never told the bank.
  • The customer moved cities or countries.
  • There is no next of kin on file, or the one on file cannot be reached.
  • A wallet or savings product was opened once and never used again.

What the CBN guidelines expect

  • Warn customers before an account becomes dormant.
  • Track and record inactive accounts.
  • Try to reach the account holder or the beneficiaries they named.
  • Verify identity before an account is reactivated.
  • Report to the CBN.

TheCable’s summary puts dormancy at typically one year for current accounts and two years for savings accounts. In February 2025 the CBN directed banks to publish details of dormant accounts and unclaimed balances on their websites. Reports say a March 2026 circular dropped the affidavit for reactivating accounts that have not yet been transferred. Confirm each point against the current CBN text. The full list is in our CBN dormant account compliance checklist.

What dormant account software should do

  • Start a quiet-period clock from signals you already hold, such as transactions and logins.
  • Warn the customer before the dormancy date.
  • Reach a consented second contact, with a staff member reviewing.
  • Stop the clock the moment the customer acts.
  • Send events to your core system by signed webhook.
  • Keep an audit log for the CBN and your auditors.

It does not reactivate an account or release money. Identity checks and reactivation stay with the bank.

The same problem outside banks

NGX registrars. Unclaimed dividends are the shareholder version of a dormant account. The SEC puts them at about ₦270 billion. See unclaimed dividends in Nigeria. Pension administrators. Contributors who have not completed data recapture face the same trouble. See PenCom data recapture.

Related guides

Common questions

What is a dormant account in Nigeria?

TheCable’s summary of the CBN guidelines puts it at typically one year without a customer-started transaction for current accounts and two years for savings accounts. Check the current text for each product.

Can software fix dormant accounts?

It can reduce how many accounts reach dormancy by reaching customers earlier, and it can keep the records. Reactivation, identity checks and reporting stay with the bank.

Is this only for banks in Lagos?

No. It works for any Nigerian bank or fintech. Lagos is where many of them are based, so it is where many teams start.

How can I try Entrustt?

Book a conversation with Entrustt or ask for sandbox keys, and your engineers can test the API before you decide.

General information, not legal advice. Rules and figures change, so check the current text from the CBN, SEC and PenCom before you act.

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