Buni Makes Special Appeal To CBN On Deadline For Old Naira Notes

The Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni has made a special appeal to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline for change of Naira notes in the state.

The CBN slated January 31 as the deadline for the collection of the old Naira notes.

The governor said the appeal became necessary due to lack of banking services in most parts of the state.

He explained that 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.

According to the spokesperson to the governor, Mamman Mohammed in a statement on Sunday, Buni said: "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.

"As a regulatory body, CBN should also ensure commercial banks open branches in the local government council headquarters now that there is improved peace and security across the state."

The governor said the improved security in Yobe state and the Northeast generally makes it conducive for the banks to resume operations and open new branches in the local government council headquarters and other towns.

"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," Governor Buni said. 

He further expressed fears that until something urgent is done, many people may fall victims of failing to change to the new notes.