Ebonyi citizens urged to embrace CBN packages, programmes

Citizens of Ebonyi have been urged to embrace the people-oriented packages and programmes of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at
making them financially viable.

Assistant Director, Corporate Communication of CBN, Mr Sam Okogbue, said this in Abakaliki during a sensitisation programme on CBN’s
services and products, noting that the institution pursues people-oriented policies.

Okogbue said such packages include: enlightenment on the need to open bank accounts, use of mobile money payment system, use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) effective usage of bank accounts, use
of Point of Sales (POS) payment method, accesing its Anchor Borrower loan scheme, among others.

“CBN wants to be the bank for the peasant farmer, ‘akara’ seller, all categories of small scale entrepreneurs among others.

“We encourage our people to engage in local production as our anchor borrower scheme assists our farmers to massively produce farm produce such as rice.

“Ebonyi is among the states that has the best rice mills in the country and we have assisted its farmers to engage in massive production of the commodity.

“The country used to spend $1billion on rice importation but the mass production of rice locally has generated massive employment for the people,” he said.

He enjoined the citizens to open bank accounts to benefit from the bank’s financial inclusion schemes and support such as loans.

Mr Nnanna Chukwu, an Official of the Payment System Department of CBN, said apart from opening of accounts, citizens should also make use of the mobile money mode of transaction.

“When you register with a mobile money outlet, you will be issued a
mobile wallet as all these help to promote cashless policies that most
people have not identified-with.

“The cashless policy reduces the risk of citizens carrying cash for such as armed robbery attacks, fire incidences among others,” he said.

He also advised the citizens to make use of their ATM cards and not release the PIN numbers to anybody to avoid being fraud victims.

Mrs Ngozi Eze, Senior Manager, Currency Operations Department of CBN, advised the citizens not to mutilate or spray naira notes as they were the country’s symbols.

“Any one caught committing these offences will face six months imprisonment, option of N50, 000 fine or both,” she said.

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