*says 25 Borno LGAs lack ICT facilities, bank or financial institutions
*says as as governor, he doesn’t possess the new Naira notes
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State on Friday, lamented the design and non availability of the new Naira notes contrary to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directives of compliance on or before January 31, 2023.
He also suggested that there is need for special consideration to citizens of Borno who predominantly illiterate and not educated on internet or Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities, especially at the rural areas.
Expressing concerns on behalf of Borno people, Governor Zulum urged the apex bank as a matter of importance, to reconsider its end of the month of January 2023 deadline, stressing that the time frame, circulation and availability of the new Naira notes and withdrawal of the old Naira notes at the remote areas and border towns could pose some challenges.
“The circulation of the redesigned new Naira notes, especially in Borno State, has left many communities in economic hardship and serious social challenges coupled with inaccessibility of 25 LGAs of the state that have no ICT facilities, bank or financial organizations, except in two LGAs of the state out of the 27 due to Boko Haram insecurity,” Zulum said.
The governor disclosed this when Central Bank of Nigeria deposit team on assignment in Borno and Yobe states to ensure compliance, implementation, usage and high level of compliance by all the banks and POS machines operators of the new Naira notes paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Zulum told the leader of the CBN Mobilization team or delegation, the CBN Director of Statistics Department, Dr. Mohammad T. Mala that out of the 27 local government areas, only two towns in two LGAs made up of Maiduguri, and Biu have functional banks, while the remaining areas have been without bank facilities for the past decade, in addition to destruction of telecommunication facilities and financial institutions perpetrated by the Boko haram insurgents.
“Borno State Government is really in support of the CBN policy in redesign of new Naira notes, as it will in the long run, have positive effect on Nigerians, but sincerely speaking, all the infrastructure needed to implement this new CBN’s policy are not in existence in many parts or communities of Borno.
“As it is, out of the 27 local government areas, only three, made up of Maiduguri, Jere and Biu have functional banks, while the remaining ones have been without banks for the past decades, in addition to destruction of telecommunication facilities and financial institutions perpetrated by insurgents.
“If as governor, I do not possess the new Naira notes currently, what of a poor person in the village or on the streets? Just last week, the Borno State Government under my leadership approved the release of the sum of N800 million to cushion the hardship faced by our repentant Boko Haram Terrorists, so how does CBN expect these repentant terrorists who are still under the custody of our security operatives to come out to exchange their old Naira notes or open accounts with commercial banks.
“Secondly, it is disheartening to inform you that no vehicle that has access to Kala-Balge Local Government Area for the past seven months due to the terrain and insecurity. There are thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kala-Balge who are currently faced with hunger.
“This is because, they only travel about 16km by canoe to buy food items from neighbouring communities of Cameroun Republic. Unfortunately, I was told last week that these traumatized people could no longer buy food items from neighbouring Cameroun communities who are largely rejecting the old Naira notes.
“Go to Kukawa Local Government Area, or Baga, Banki and even some parts of peaceful Southern Borno senatorial district, there are still pockets of insurgents, but I assure you that Borno State Government will provide security cover to you people if you are ready to take the new Naira notes in exchange for the old notes to ensure that our people are not shortchanged by this policy”. Zulum said.
He however, lamented that, “even in Monguno where we have over 700,000 IDPs, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is totally not available, so how can this be possible? I believe as government, we set up a policy to benefit mankind or ease the hardship of the generality of the people, but in this situation, the reverse is the case, especially to Borno and Yobe states which are now coming out from decades insecurity.”
Earlier in his remark, Dr. Mohammed Mala said that CBN management directed that all its directors should go back home to all the states of the federation to resolve all issues and challenges associated with the usage of the new currency.
“We are in Borno to ensure level of compliance by commercial banks and its customers for dispatching the new Naira notes, and withholding of the old currency in circulation.
“As the sons and daughters of the soil, we are in the state for two mandates which include; to ensure the new Naira notes are in circulation in Nigeria, especially in hinterlands and rural communities ahead of the January 31, 2023 deadline for the old currency seize to be a legal tender,” he explained.
He added that their mission was also to ascertain or ensure all banks including other financial institutions fully comply with the CBN directives on the new Naira notes by making them available in their ATM machines and POS machines, while CBN is also planning for establishment of CBN agents to facilitates the circulation of the new Naira notes and collection or withdrawal of the old notes.
“We have been on ground monitoring the development, as we appeal to the state government to provide adequate security cover for our team as we visit communities,” Mala said.
