This is a very important question, and I’m glad you asked—because many Nigerian investors get this wrong and create problems for themselves.
Let’s go straight to the truth and fix your situation properly.
🔴 First — The Core Rule (Don’t Miss This)
You are supposed to have:
👉 ONLY ONE CHN (CSCS number) in your lifetime
Issued by
Central Securities Clearing System
It is like:
BVN for banking
One identity across all brokers
✔ You can have many brokers
✔ But only one CHN
🟡 What Likely Happened in Your Case
You used:
InvestNaija
Zedcrest
MyStocks
👉 If you did NOT provide your existing CHN during registration, then:
❗ Each broker may have created:
A separate CSCS account
Possibly even another CHN (duplicate profile)
⚠️ Will This Affect Your Investment?
✔️ Your Money is NOT lost
Your shares are still safe because they are stored in CSCS.
❗ But you now have a problem:
Your investments are scattered
You may have:
Multiple CSCS account numbers
Possibly duplicate CHNs
👉 This can cause:
Confusion tracking your portfolio
Difficulty receiving dividends properly
Issues when transferring or selling
🔵 Can You “Merge” CHN Across Apps?
👉 You cannot merge apps directly
You must go through a formal process.
✅ The Correct Solution (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 — Identify Your Real CHN
Pick your main broker (e.g. InvestNaija).
Request:
Your CHN
Your CSCS statement
Step 2 — Check Other Brokers
Ask:
Zedcrest
MyStocks
👉 “Which CHN did you register for me?”
Step 3 — If You Have Multiple CHNs
You must request:
👉 CHN Consolidation (Merge)
This is done through:
Your stockbroker
CSCS approval
Process includes:
Written request
CSCS statement
Small processing fee
Step 4 — Link One CHN to All Brokers
Going forward:
👉 Always use the SAME CHN when opening new accounts
🟢 Important Clarification
You can have:
✔ One CHN (global identity)
✔ Multiple CSCS account numbers (per broker)
Think of it like:
CHN = BVN
CSCS accounts = different bank accounts
🔴 Will It Affect Your InvestNaija Redemption?
👉 No — your money there is safe
BUT:
If accounts are not aligned
Transfers or withdrawals may become complicated
🧠 What You Should Do Right Now (Practical Plan)
Stop opening new broker accounts
Choose ONE main broker
Request your:
CHN
CSCS statement
Contact the others and:
Link them to same CHN OR
Close unnecessary ones
If duplicates exist → request CHN merge
⚠️ Hard Truth (Important Advice)
Right now, your issue is not investing.
👉 Your issue is account structure and control
Fix this first before:
Buying stocks
Investing in bonds
✅ Bottom Line
You should have only one CHN
Multiple brokers = normal
Multiple CHNs = problem (but fixable)
No immediate loss, but needs correction