By our Reporters
@ Katsina Times
In the course of investigation, Katsina Times has discovered that during the last Christmas and New Year celebration, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ensured that there was enough money in commercial banks for withdrawal by customers, to facilitate hitch-free yuletide festivities.
Our investigation confirmed that during the period, CBN went to the extent of issuing a directive and warning to commercial banks to load their ATMs with cash, to ensure that customers can withdraw any amount they wished.
The apex bank also supplied the commercial banks with new Naira notes, from 200 to 5 Naira dominations, ensuring that there was enough money im circulation.
However, our investigation revealed that as at Friday, 28th March, when banks closed for the public holiday ahead of Sallah, there was acute shortage of cash at the banks, particularly in states with Muslim majority.
We confirmed this trend in states such as Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, zamfara and Kebbi where banks gave customers a maximum of only N20,000, in many cases customers who wanted to withdraw cash had to wait for other customers to deposit cash at the banks.
CBN also refused to distribute new Naira notes to the banks as it did during the Christmas period.
Many stakeholders in the affected states have been complaining bitterly over this clear act of discrimination by the CBN.
The Eid of Festival which marks the end of Ramadan fast is the biggest festival in Islam and it is very important to Muslims, it is celebrated with various activities associated with breaking of the month-long fast.
The CBN Governor has for long being widely accused of implementing policies and actions that show clear discrimination against the north and Muslims in Nigeria.
While this deliberate Naira scarcity during Sallah festivity is a case of open discrimination, only God knows how many serious cases of discrimination are being perpetrated behind the scenes.
All attempts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the apex bank have proved abortive, we sent an email, SMS and WhatsApp messages which have not been replied up to the time of filing this report.
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