Naira Redesign: Buni appeals for special concession for Yobe
By Bala Dauda, Damaturu
Gov Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to grant special concession to Yobe State ahead of the January 31 deadline for change of old naira notes to redesign notes in the country.
Buni made the plea in a statement by his Director-General Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, in Damaturu on Sunday.
He said the appeal became necessary due to lack of adequate banking services in most parts of the state.
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“Only four out of the 17 local government areas in the state have banks, making it difficult for people in the remaining 13 local government areas to access banking services.
“Some of the banks with branches in the local government areas closed the branches at the peak of the Boko Haram security challenge but are yet to reopen in spite of the improved security in the state.
“The CBN should be considerate to provide special services to such areas with special needs to avoid making them victims and loosing their money.
“The CBN and commercial banks should as a matter of urgent public interests deploy alternative services at their disposal to salvage the situation,” the governor said.
Buni noted that as a regulatory body, CBN should also ensure that commercial banks open branches in the affected council’s headquarters now that security improved across the state.
He said the improved security in Yobe and the Northeast in general made it conducive for the banks to resume operations and open new branches in the local government council headquarters and other towns.
The governor expressed concern that “ until something urgent is done, many people may fall victims of failing to change to the new notes.”
“As a government we made these observations earlier but the challenge is still there and needs the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria to save the situation,” Buni said.
