How to send money from the UAE to Nigeria
Send money from the UAE to Nigeria with Hubpay
Published on 1 January 2023
How can I send money to Nigeria? Everyone in the Nigerian diaspora has asked this question at least once. In 2021, the tens of millions of Nigerians living abroad sent 19.48 billion USD back home, according to the World Bank. In that same year, remittances accounted for 4.4% of the country’s GDP.
Roughly 40% of Nigerians, especially those living in rural areas, do not have access to a bank account, based on research by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Therefore, a bank transfer may not always be the most efficient way to send money to Nigeria. As a result, many Nigerians living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) face significant difficulties when sending money home. Consequently, they are on the lookout for a money transfer channel with the following features:
Fast transactions secured by advanced technology
User-friendly and easy-to-use interfaces
Reasonable transfer fees, especially for those with limited income
Accessibility in various regions so their loved ones can cash out the transfers
But which money transfer channel can provide them with these benefits? In this article, we will dive deep into the various means of remitting funds and their limitations when sending money to Nigeria. We’ll cover the following:
Factors to consider when transferring money to Nigeria
Methods for sending money to Nigeria
How to send money to Nigeria using Hubpay
Are you looking for a low-cost, reliable, and accessible way to send money from the UAE to Nigeria? Download the Hubpay app on Apple store or Google Play store and enjoy world-class international remittances together with multiple additional services such as bill payments and airtime recharge. You can join for free on Apple and Google Play.
1. Factors to consider when transferring money to Nigeria
Transfer fees and exchange rates
Money transfer channels and service providers charge different fees and use various exchange rates. Therefore, before choosing one, ensure you compare fees and exchange rates.
Also, according to Forbes Financial Advisor, many international money transfer entities who promote 'no-fee' transfers don’t actually abide by that promise. Many have hidden charges that will even be more significant than the fees that others charge.
Consequently, you should be sure that the money transfer operator you choose is transparent with its fees and exchange rate.
Transfer speed
While the transfer speed might not be an issue for some, others consider it the main factor when choosing a money transfer method, especially if their families back home are counting on the remittance for their day-to-day expenses.
Before choosing a service provider, confirm how long it will take for the money to reach the recipient in Nigeria.
Accessibility
Sending money to Nigeria is one thing, but covering all Nigeria regions is another. Make sure the money transfer service provider can deliver transfers to the specific region where the recipient lives.
Because many rural areas in the country don’t have banks, a bank-to-bank transfer might be a challenge. However, sending money through mobile applications might be a reasonable solution due to the surge in mobile payments in Nigeria ($9.2 trillion worth of mobile transactions took place within seven months in 2022, according to Forbes Africa), which makes it possible for residents to receive money in a digital wallet without needing a cash pickup.
Security
When transferring funds, it is important to be cautious due to the prevalence of fraud and cybercriminals. Make sure your personal and financial data is safe by only using a reputable and secure money transfer service. Nowadays, securing accounts with passwords is not enough, and trustworthy services utilize two-factor authentication, biometrics, or other means to protect users.
Convenience
If convenience and comfort are important considerations for you, then ensure you choose a service provider that will provide them.
2. Methods for sending money to Nigeria
There are various options for remitting funds to family and friends in Nigeria. Common financial services include the following:
Banks
Banks are the most widely used method for sending remittances internationally. However, only 71% of adults in Nigerian cities and 40% of those living in rural areas have bank accounts, as reported by Premium Times, an online newspaper based in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Consequently, it may be challenging for many Nigerian families to receive bank transfers. Moreover, despite being safe and well-known, bank transfers have high fees and require several days to complete.
Exchange houses
Exchange houses provide faster and more affordable international remittances to Nigeria when compared to banks.
These exchange houses are typically more accessible for new expats because many of them don’t require a bank account. Such ease of use, however, raises concerns about security and fraud. Furthermore, money transfer services may also be unavailable in some rural areas.
Online money transfer platforms
Unlike other money transfer methods, sending money to Nigeria online is typically the quickest, easiest, and most cost-effective option. Recipients can get access to remittances even if they live in rural areas without access to traditional banking services.
3. How to send money to Nigeria using Hubpay?
Hubpay offers a convenient, secure, cost-effective solution for transferring money from the UAE to Nigeria. You can easily and confidently send remittances with competitive exchange rates, advanced security protocols, fast and reliable transfers, and a user-friendly interface.
To answer the question: “how can I send money to Nigeria?,” we’ll introduce the basic steps to using Hubpay, a user-friendly, secure, and cost-efficient mobile application for sending money from the UAE to Nigeria and other countries.
1. Install the app
To install the Hubpay app, visit the app store for IOS or Android
2. Create a new account for free
The only requirements for creating a new account are a valid phone number and an Emirates ID. Due to the UAE’s know-your-customer (KYC) regulations, the app will request scanning the user’s Emirates ID to finish the account setup.
3. Set up security measures
Scams and credential theft are common security threats when sending and receiving money. Additionally, the risk increases when technology l(mobile applications and online platforms) is involved. For that reason, the Hubpay team has embraced app security by enabling two security measures:
OTPs (one-time passwords)
As it is standard practice to set up a username and password, Hubpay added a new measure that entails sending a special temporary code via text message whenever a user needs to access their account. The code is only valid for three minutes before the user needs to get a new one, adding an extra security layer to ensure accounts are safe even when cybercriminals compromise login info.
Takeaways
Nigeria’s economy relies heavily on money sent home, with remittances reaching roughly 19 billion US Dollars, comprising 4.4% of GDP in 2021.
There are various ways to send money to Nigeria, including traditional banking services, money transfer vendors, and online money transfer platforms.
Hubpay is a trustworthy online money transfer service because of its speed, ease of use, and safety.
