Btlsblog Latest News & Gossip
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) joint task force yesterday raided some banks and areas in Abuja in search of persons suspected to be hoarding and selling the new naira notes.
The Abubakar Kure-led taskforce said it arrested three persons in Areas 3 and 7 of Garki, following a tip-off.
Also, the Coalition of Civil Society on Good Governance (CCSGG) made good its threat to picket commercial banks suspected to be sabotaging the circulation of the new notes.
Downloads btlsblog mobile app on playstore
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wBtlsblog_13609357
The CBN director said: We carried out the raid following secret information of racketeering of the new naira notes around some banks in Garki Area 3 and 7, Abuja. We visited some Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and public spaces to investigate and ascertain the level of compliance.
“We will continue to monitor and take necessary action to deal with persons or groups involved in the racketeering.”
CCSGG members, who protested in front of some commercial banks in Abuja, alleged that economic saboteurs were behind the hardship faced by Nigerians in accessing the new notes.
The coalition’s President, Bassey Etuk, said it was unfortunate that the initial deadline of January 31 was sabotaged by people with huge illegitimate amounts of money in their homes.
Etuk said: “We rise to warn those involved in the sabotage of the efforts of the CBN to desist and join hands in ensuring that the extension given is well utilised. We will not hesitate to shut down any bank fingered in this sabotage.”
Also yesterday, a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, advised the CBN to make the smaller denominations of the naira available.
The organisation gave the advice in a joint statement by its President, Alex Omotehinse, and its Lagos State branch chairman, Kehinde Adeoye.
“We call on the CBN Governor (Godwin Emefiele) to make N100 and N50 notes more available to the Nigeria populace,” it said.
*CBN approach will destroy economy, says Falae
In Akure, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Olu Falae, said that CBN’s approach to the redesigned naira was capable of destroying the nation’s economy.
Oba Falae, Olu of Iluaabo, Akure, who faulted the timing of the redesign, said it should not be allowed to disrupt economic activities in the country.
The former Finance Minister said: “The timing could have been better. Being so close to the election, it’ is too rather disruptive because being so close to the election people would be moving around.
“The scarcity of funds may disrupt that movement. The timing could have been better and the organisation too could have been better. Normally, when you want to withdraw an existing currency from circulation, you ensure whatever goes into the banking system does not go out.”
