An interesting discovery on my journey to getting the money lending license for Fulcrum Sigma Enterprise Unlimited took me from Iyana-Ipaja Lagos to Samuel Ilori Magistrate Courthouse, Ogba Lagos, first floor, first turning on your right (after doing my research by reading online articles that just stated a magistrate court in Lagos) and also asking for directions along the way till i got to Lagos State Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja where a man {age ranged 30 – 40 years} just told me point blank to get to Samuel Ilori Magistrate Courthouse, Ogba Lagos). Upon getting there on Monday 30th October, 2023, i was given the necessary requirements and told where to get some of the other documents.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MONEY LENDING LICENSE
The requirements for a money lender license varies from state to state. However, the requirements for obtaining money lending licenses in Lagos State are summarized below;
Requirements and procedure for obtaining a Money Lender’s License in Lagos State, Nigeria
- Certificate of company registration and other incorporation documents from Corporate Affairs Commission CAC.
- A police fingerprint certificate (Police Character Certificate ₦15,000 each) of the two directors of the company (i got mine from Area F Police Station, Ikeja Lagos).
- An application in the prescribed form to the Chief Magistrate within the Magisterial District where the lending business will be carried on.
- Upon successful application to the Chief Magistrate, the applicant will be issued a Money Lenders Certificate (Form B) recommending the issuance of a Money Lenders License.
- A formal application to the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs and Tourism attaching all relevant documents.
- Applicant must make payment of the Money Lender Lenders License fee into the Lagos State Government Account with receipt evidencing payment.
- The company must have a banner conspicuously displaying the business activities of the company, which is money lending services and the company’s vision.
- The three-year tax clearance certificates for the two directors of the company.
- Banker reference letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
- The Lagos State government officials will physically inspect the applicant’s place of business.
- Upon compliance with the statutory requirements and upon satisfaction by the government officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs & Tourism, the applicant will be issued with the Money Lending License.
- Every money lending license issued expires by December 31 of the same year it is issued. This i was told and advised to come back in January, 2024. Today’s the first day of November, 2023. (Until i met the woman in charge of registrations, my assumptions were based on the fact that the Nigerian Drivers License can be purchased any time of the year and renewed the following year i.e it’s for just one year).
- ₦30,000
After thanking the woman, from there, i headed out to get some of the documents like the Police Character Certificate for the directors (from the Nigerian Police Area F, Ikeja Lagos) and the affidavit of directorship from the Lagos State High Court Ikeja, of the Lagos State Judiciary, where i witnessed detainees present right within the premises with the Nigerian Correctional Service (Plate number A2517NC and A2509NC) attached to Kirikiri-Apapa Lagos.
Happenings By-Imonikhe realized that the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) under the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Area F Police Station under the Ministry of Interior and the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja under the Lagos State Ministry of Justice have adjacent buildings, meaning that an individual can exit the hospital, then enter the police station, then enter into the court house for official businesses should they choose all in the same day. It was an adult man (age ranged 30 – 50 years) that gave me directions when i asked the security woman at Samuel Ilori Courthouse, Ogba Lagos for directions to Area F Police Station. I told the man that i knew Lasuth very well and his reply was that once i got to Lasuth, i would also see Area F Police Station.