Following
the launch of “project cashless lagos” which was launched last year by Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Lagos state as pilot scheme to help discourage the use
of cash in day-to-day transactions, the CBN, having recorded success in the
pilot has concluded arrangement to introduce its cashless policy in Abuja and 5
other states around the country.
Speaking after the Bankers Committee
meeting Tuesday in Abuja, Acting Director, Banking Supervision of CBN, Mr.
Benjamin Fakunle said that apart from the FCT, the five other states that would
go cashless includes, Kano, Anambra, Abia, Rivers and Ogun.
”In addition to the one that is
being operated in Lagos, five states and the Federal Capital Territory would
also go cashless. This is an attempt to make sure that the use of cash in
transactions is discouraged.”
Mr. Fakunle therefore enjoined Nigerians
to use more of electronic channels and less cash in performing their financial
transactions.
Also speaking at the post bankers
committee briefing, Director, External Communications Division, Mr. Okoroafor
Ugochukwu cautioned Nigerians on the dangers of patronising ‘wonderbanks’
saying that they are not regulated by the Apex Bank.
“Any institution that collects money
should be one that is registered by CBN.”
While assuring that CBN is working to
ensure that those that operate illegal transaction are brought to justice, Mr.
Okoroafor urged Nigerians to report to law enforcement agencies any activities
of wonderbanks.
“You must watch out for any bank that
offers you fantastic interest far above the commercial banks,” he cautioned.
Also, Group Managing Director, Zenith
Bank, Mr. Godwin Emiefele disclosed that the purpose of the biometric data\Know
Your Customer project embarked upon by the banks is to build a central database
where both existing customers and prospective customers of banks data can be
collected “such that information in bank A would be the same in bank B about a
particular customer of a bank.”
In a similar vein, The Bankers Committee
of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday agreed to remove all major
impediments in the bond market, saying such move was needed to facilitate the
growth and development of that segment of the economy.
The meeting, which was attended by the
Managing Directors of all the Deposit Money Banks, was declared open by the
Governor of the CBN, Mr Lamido Sanusi.
Credits
to Noel Onoja
vanguardngr.com
