Banking

Zulum to banks: Dispense new naira notes or I revoke your land

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has declared that any bank which refuses to dispense new naira notes over the counter and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) will have its land revoked by the state government.

Zulum made the declaration during a visit to branches of banks to assess problems being faced by residents in trying to access the new naira notes in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Friday.

“Any bank in Borno State that is not willing to ensure their ATMs are fully dispensing new naira notes cash to ease the suffering of our people, we will withdraw their land title immediately. We will only spare Banks with genuine constraints that are verifiable,” the governor said.

Governor Zulum, who was unhappy when he saw hundreds of people queued at a bank’s branch, with only one out of 10 ATMs dispensing cash, added: “As you can see here, only less privileged people are queued up. I didn’t see rich people here. Many people are said to be here since 3:00 a.m., some could not even eat anything.

“The new naira notes and even the old ones are not available and that is adversely affecting commercial activities in the state and people are suffering.

READ ALSO: Police arrest 2 for selling fake new naira notes

“We just released salaries of about 5 billion naira and the banks don’t have money, some of the ATMs are not working. We don’t have any problem with the CBN policy or the withdrawal limit; they said individuals can only withdraw N20,000, but why can’t everyone have access to that N20,000?

“Yesterday, I was in Gubio with a population of over 70,000 people but it was impossible to source N100,000 in the entire local government, neither of the new note nor the old notes.

“A ram that is worth N100,000 is now being sold for N35,000 because people are desperate for cash and some wicked rich people are going to rural areas to exploit poor people,” he said.

Zulum, however, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure the availability of new naira notes at commercial banks for people to access their money.

“Right now in Borno State, I have visited more than ten ATMs and there’s no cash,” the governor added.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Trump demands reopening of Hormuz to accept Iran deal

United States President Donald Trump says he would soon decide on a proposed deal to…

5 minutes ago

Sanwo-Olu condemns Oyo abduction, demands stronger protection for children, schools

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for urgent national commitment toward protecting children and…

17 minutes ago

GenZ wahala made me quit marriage — Bashir El-Rufai

Bashir El-Rufai has confirmed the end of his marriage to his first wife, Halima Nwakaego…

43 minutes ago

Sarkin Mota clinches NDC Reps ticket in Adamawa

Abuja-based auto dealer and politician, Aliyu Mohammad, popularly known as “Sarkin Mota,” has emerged as…

48 minutes ago

Stock market rebounds as investors gain N414bn

The Nigerian stock market closed the last trading day in May on a bullish note…

1 hour ago

‘Battle line drawn’: Ex-Kano deputy gov vows to unseat Yusuf in 2027

The immediate past Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam, has vowed to unseat Governor Abba…

1 hour ago

This website uses cookies.