Jutha Gupah, Damaturu
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state; has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to grant special concessions and alternatives for the people against the January 31, deadline to exchange their old naira notes for new ones.
According to him, the appeal has become inevitable; due to lack of banking services in most parts of the state.
The Director General, Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, disclosed, yesterday (Sunday) in a statement in Damaturu; that only four out of 17 Local Councils have commercial banks to receive the old notes.
The old naira notes are to be exchanged for the redesigned N200, N500 and N1, 000 new notes.
The Governor, however, lamented that; “It makes it very difficult for our people living in the remaining 13 Local Councils in accessing banking services.”
Besides, he added that the commercial banks’ branches in the affected councils were closed during the peak of Boko Haram security challenges.
He noted that despite improved security situations in the state, commercial banks are yet to reopen their branches in the affected councils, including border communities in Geidam, Machina, Yusufari and Yunusari with Niger.
“The apex bank should be considerate in providing special services to the 13 affected Local Government Areas,” he said.
He warned that this could prevent the people from losing their money without exchanging them with the new ones.
“The CBN and commercial banks should as a matter of an urgent public interest deploy alternative banking services,” adding that this could salvage the currencies’ exchange for the new ones in the state.
He, therefore, urged the apex bank to ensure commercial banks open branches in the Local Council headquarters, as there are improved peace and security across the state.
He added that the improved security in the state and Northeast generally makes it conducive for the banks to resume operations.
“They should open new banking branches in the local council headquarters and other border communities with Niger Republic,” he said.
Buni; however expressed fears that until something urgent is done, many people may fall victims of failing to change the old notes with new ones.
“The challenges of exchanging the old naira notes for new ones, are still there,” he said, as there is need for the CBN to intervene to prevent the people from being short changed with losses.
