Fakoyejo OlalekanThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Zenith Bank, and other commercial banks to start distributing the redesigned Naira notes over the counter.
Recall that the central bank had halted the withdrawal of the new Naira notes over the counter, directing commercial banks to instead dispense the cash through their Auto Teller Machines (ATM) to the public.
CBN had made the initial decision to prevent banks from making the new banknotes available to only politicians or other high clients.
Prime Business Africa reported that the CBN’s Awka-Anambra State Branch Controller, Benedict Maduagwu, hinted that politicians are mopping up the new Naira notes.
Maduagwu said three weeks ago: “the CBN will be sanctioning any commercial bank that is not dispensing new notes to the public.
“We will be visiting commercial banks to ensure that they give out the new naira notes to the public to do their business. We will make sure that the new notes made available to banks are not diverted to politicians only.”
CBN reverses decision, set limit
The apex bank has now backtracked on Thursday, 2, February 2023, informing the commercial banks to resume over-the-counter withdrawal of the new N200, N500 and N1,000 notes.
Prior to the recent announcement, banks had stated that they will start offering lower denominations of N10, N20 and N50 over-the-counter amid scarcity of the new higher denomination banknotes.
However, the financial regulator has set a new directive of a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000, consisting of redesigned Naira notes, to each customer.
“In line with this resolve, the Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has directed deposit money banks (DMBs) to commence the payment of the redesigned Naira notes over the counter, subject to a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000.
“We also admonish members of the public to embrace and adopt other payment channels for their transactions.
“The Naira is our legal tender and symbol of national pride. Therefore, let us respect it and handle it with care,” CBN said in a circular released by its Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi.
CBN my foot,not competent enough, how can this be happening. People spending 2to 3 hours at the ATM and at the end of it no money. NCAA
This is a bull shit arrangement after the so call bank manager give to new notes who is who. Now you want to set limit . How do we do business with just 20k and this 20k might not even come through because everyone need money to carry out their daily business. Last week business were crippled because of lack of money. You stand in line at the ATM by the time is your turn money has finished. Why are they treating the minorities like they are not human being. The situation on ground is bad story.to be told in the future. In late 2022 and early 2023 , Nigeria was in a chaos no money, no light, no petrol. Even though you have money in your account but you cannot withdraw.
I am saying the bank manager need to be disciplined they are all bunch of thieves.
I m UBA customer, when I went to GTB bank to withdraw at the ATM, dear limit of withdraw is 1,000 4 other customer and their charge he is 35 naira, I want the cbn to go there and confirm what I’m saying is life and direct if you check 35 naira per 1000 x 10,000 equals to 350 naira per person.