POS Operators close to Police Stations accross Rivers State are set for a major shake-up as the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has banned all Point-of-Sale (POS) operators from working within 200 metres of any police facility.
The directive, sent through an internal nationwide message today, Wednesday, the 13th of May, 2026, aims to cut the link between mobile money agents and allegations of station-side corruption.
For many residents in Port Harcourt, POS stands are a permanent fixture near station gates. However, the police high command now views this “alarming proliferation” as a major hurdle to transparency. The concern is that these kiosks have become informal “cash points” for illegal transactions, where money changes hands far from the prying eyes of official bank records.
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The order places heavy pressure on local commanders. State Commissioners and heads of formations have been warned that they will be held directly accountable for any POS operator found within the 200-metre exclusion zone. This means that in the coming days, popular spots near the State CID or divisional headquarters across the state will likely be cleared of the familiar umbrellas and kiosks.
This move hits the local business community at a time when the sector is already under heat from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to formalize operations. While the police argue the ban is necessary to stop extortion specifically claims that officers force people to make withdrawals via nearby agents legitimate business owners in Port Harcourt may find themselves displaced.
Many chose these locations for the perceived security of being near a station, but they must now find new ground or risk having their terminals seized.
As of Wednesday morning, enforcement is expected to begin immediately. For the Port Harcourt business owner, the challenge is now one of distance. Whether this move actually cleans up the “bail money” culture or simply moves it one street over remains to be seen, but for now, the 200-metre rule is the new law of the land.
