We have to go into banks’ strong rooms over scarcity of new currency — CBN
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has promised to storm strong rooms of commercial banks to confirm hoarding of the new naira which could be a reason for the scarcity of the notes in circulation.
The apex bank vowed to occupy commercial banks to look into unhealthy conducts which have made access to the new notes difficult for members of the public.
The Branch Controller of the apex bank in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maxwell Okafor, made this revelation in the state.
“The sincere truth is that the situation is not smooth. Many of the banks are making the process too cumbersome.
“For us to enter the bank today to assist these POS operators, it took a lot of pains. I wonder if Nigerians goes through this pains when we are here, what happens when we are not here.
“For hoarding, we will need further exercise to establish that. It means we have to go into their strong rooms, check how they disbursed what they have, ATM, individuals before we can establish that. But the process is slow and we are pleading with banks to make the process easier.”
“Tomorrow, we are going to Buguma, Omoku, Ahoada, Oyigbo, Onne, Eleme. So we will gradually cover all the hinterland of the state to make sure we exchange money directly for persons, especially those who do not have bank account.
“We are going to cover all local government areas in the state. It is unfortunate, anybody not able to exchange his own before the deadline will loose his money, but we are augmenting efforts of the banks to make sure as much as possible, everybody has opportunity to exchange the old naira.”
