The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cleared the air on some reports attributing the current challenge in the distribution of the newly redesigned naira banknotes to a shortage of printing materials at the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc.
A statement on Saturday by the Director, Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, noted that at no time did the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele disclose such information during his presentation to the National Council of State at its meeting on Friday.
Part of the statement reads: “For the records, what Mr. Emefiele told the meeting was that the NSPMC was working on printing all denominations of the Naira to meet the transaction needs of Nigerians.Â
“While the CBN appreciates the concerns shown by all stakeholders about the distribution of the Naira, we are alarmed at the extent to which vested interests are attempting to manipulate facts and pitch the public against the Bank.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN remains committed to performing its monetary policy functions, as stipulated in the CBN Act, 2007, as amended. We also wish to restate that the NSPMC has the capacity and enough materials to produce the required indent of the Naira.
The Bank, therefore, wishes to appeal to the public to disregard the said report and exercise more restraint, even as we work assiduously to increase the circulation of the new notes in the country,” Mr. Nwanisobi said.
In the same vein, the apex Bank has dismissed a voice note trending on social media alleging that the CBN planned to shut down some banks, particularly in a particular geopolitical region of the country.
The CBN added that “There is no such plan and that the claims are illogical and do not comply with the workings of the Nigerian banking system,”
The CBN advised the public to ignore such recordings as they do not represent the policy thrust of the CBN and are only the desperate attempts of persons bent on inciting the public against the Bank.
