New naira notes: institute urges calm, understanding among customers

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), has called for calm and understanding among bank customers following difficulties in accessing the new naira notes.

A statement by Akin Morakinyo, the Registrar/Chief Executive, CIBN, on Tuesday said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and operators (the banks) were working assiduously to bring the situation under control.

“We sincerely empathise with the banking public on the difficulties encountered in accessing the new naira notes which heightened tension and in some cases, provoked acts of violence at different customer touch points,’’ he said.

He called on bankers to carry on their duties with utmost professionalism and diligence.

“’Relevant stakeholders within the ecosystem are being engaged with a view to addressing the unintended consequences of the laudable naira Redesign Policy.

“To this end, we beseech the general public to eschew any act capable of exacerbating the current situation.

“We also beseech them to exercise restraint while we enjoin all our members to carry on their duties with utmost professionalism and diligence.

“The CIBN, the umbrella professional body for banks and bankers is confident that this phase will pass with the cooperation of all and sundry, and our country Nigeria will come out of this stronger,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some bank customers had resorted to pockets of violence in banks due to their inability to get the new naira notes.