WARNING: Before Sending Money From The UAE to Nigeria, Read This First

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:

1. Factors to consider when transferring money to Nigeria
2. Methods for sending money to Nigeria
3. 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.

Biometrics

The user’s face only needs to be scanned once, and for a more seamless user experience, it can replace the one-time password.

4. Add money source and link your bank account

Once a user creates and secures their Hubpay account, it’s time to link it to a bank account to fund the money transfer operations to Nigeria and other countries. This step only takes place once, and, moving forward, all money transfers will automatically be deducted from your bank account. The first time might take a few minutes until you fill in all the information like your full name, account number, and bank account details, then you’re free to use it as much as you want.

1. Click “Add Money” on the homepage to open a new pop-up tab that says “Link Your Bank Account.”

2. Click “Get started” in the “link your bank account” tab.

3. “Set up Payments” appears as a new tab. Click on the blue button at the bottom

4. Select the bank and enter your account information

5. You can add money in AED to your Hubpay mobile wallet once you’ve linked your bank account number. Click the “+” sign in the top right corner of the app’s homepage to add money.

6. After you review and accept the payment amount, it will be added immediately to your Hubpay mobile wallet. There is no need to enter the bank details every time you make a transfer. You can repeat this process whenever you want to add money to your wallet without a bank transfer.

5. Send money online to Nigeria

Hubpay eliminates the need to worry about foreign exchange rates or additional fees. When users choose Nigeria from the homepage, they’ll see the complete, up-to-date AED/Naira exchange rate without requiring additional calculations. You can pay in AED, and recipients will receive the funds in NGN.

To make the first transfer, click on the blue “Send Money” button located at the bottom of the homepage. This will take you to a form where you can enter the recipient’s bank account information and the amount you wish to send.

After confirming the transaction details and the amount, the Naira equivalent will be transferred instantly to the recipient’s account.

Bear in mind that Hubpay offers great exchange rates for users.

6. Hubpay keeps you connected and informed all the way

Hubpay enables senders in the UAE and recipients in Nigeria to stay in touch and communicate in real-time about the transfer within the Hubpay application through the in-app chat functionality.

Also, a complete record of the user’s financial operations is available under the “transaction” tab on the homepage. It includes the transaction’s current status, whether pending or completed, and the anticipated completion date for those still pending.

The “Add-on Services” section on the homepage features two additional services: bills payment and mobile recharge. Through these services, migrant workers can pay bills on behalf of their loved ones in Nigeria as well as recharge their mobile phones quickly and easily.

[Are you ready to send money to your family and friends in Nigeria? Download the Hubpay app, create a free account, and enjoy the low-fees, quick, and reliable international remittances. You can join for free on Apple and Google Play.]

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.