Naira Redesign: New Currencies Now With Banks – CBN Governor Speaks As He Introduces Super Agents
Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele has announced that the newly redesigned 200, 500 and 1,000 naira notes have been distributed and supplied to commercial banks and other financial institutions for onward withdrawal by bank customers.
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele stated this on Thursday at Daura in Katsina state, the country home of President Muhammadu Buhari when the apex bank Governor visited the commander-in-chief for routine briefing.
According to the CBN, he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari that progress on the newly redesigned naira notes is going on well as planned.
Governor Godwin Emefiele added that he also briefed the president on issues surrounding the cashless policy newly introduced by the CBN.
The CBN Governor said the newly redesigned naira notes were supplied and deposited with banks on Wednesday.
CBN Governor said the banks are only permitted to distribute the new currencies to their bank customers only.
Also, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said the cashless economy policy started in 2012, but the apex bank had dropped the policy three or four times to enable the country deepen its payment system infrastructures and be well prepared for the cashless economy system.
CBN Governor said the National Assembly has requested a briefing which he said the apex bank will brief them on the cashless economy policy.
The CBN Governor said that the apex bank has registered over 1.4 million Super Agents across all the local government areas in the country to perfect the cashless economy and make banking transactions easy for end users.
The 1.4 million Super Agents; it is as good as having 1.4 million banking points where people can conduct their services, according to the CBN Governor.
Adding that, the Super Agents are different from commercial banks, Micro Finance banks and other financial institutions.
He said he has directed his colleagues to publish the names of the Super Agents which he said are available in all the villages in Nigeria.
CBN Governor thereafter appealed to Nigerians to key into the cashless economy policy as the policy is not targeted at any body. Adding, Nigeria as the biggest economy in Africa needs to practice cashless economy in order to ensure the development of the country.
Godwin Emefiele said most developed economies in the world are embracing the digital cashless economy policy hence the CBN will not reverse its decision on cashless economy or change the commencement date or timing. Stressing, the cashless economy will be reviewed from time to time for onward improvement and better performance.
