The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should sanction any bank hoarding the new naira and ensure they are made available to the people.
Adeleke made the remarks while addressing CBN officials in his office on Monday. The Governor said that the state had been sacrificing so much to calm frayed nerves.
Adeleke also warned the CBN against taking the patience of the Osun people for granted.
In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor decried the increasing shortage of the new notes, explaining that he had been deploying the state’s network to douse tension and ensure the safety of banks and the CBN office in the state.
Adeleke said his intervention in the last few weeks saved Osun from the crises witnessed across some South West states, expressing unhappiness at the current hardship visited on the people.
“The situation is getting out of hand. The CBN must act fast. Any bank hoarding the new notes must be sanctioned. We should not treat such banks with kid gloves,” the governor was quoted saying.
“My people are patient but we should not take their patience for granted. That is why I called this meeting. Why are the new notes not available? Is the supply small or inadequate? “
The governor said the state is ready to partner with the CBN to solve the naira scarcity issue.
“The new notes are not available. Even as a State Governor, I don’t have the new notes. You can see how hard it is for our people to access the new currency if their Governor is not getting them.
“We should not overstretch the cooperation we are enjoying from the citizenry. We are expected as elected and appointed leaders to respond to the needs and aspirations of our people.”
While responding to the governor, Oluyemi Adeyemi, the CBN state director, commended Adeleke for his proactive steps that have saved the state from naira-related riots.
“We must thank Mr Governor for reaching out to the people, for diffusing tension, for keeping the state peaceful. We are aware of the day Mr Governor stopped some angry youth from demonstrating and from attacking the CBN office,” the CBN official stated.
“On our part, we are working hard to make the new notes available. Let me say that the CBN has issued queries to some banks. I assure Nigerians that we are working hard to make the new notes available.”
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