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Central Bank of Nigeria building, Abuja
By Akpan David, Calabar
The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele has disclosed that a new digital currency will be floated very soon.
Emefiele made the disclosure in through the acting director of corporate communications department, Mr Osita Nwanisobi at the ongoing 3-day CBN Fair where they are interfacing with bank customers in Calabar, Cross River State capital.
“We have serious plans to embark on digital currency which will be well regulated. It should come on stream very soon”, he said.
Towards this, he said there is going to be better sensitisation to enable customers become well acquainted with it.
He dismissed other electronic monies such as the Crypto currency, saying they are from unknown entities and not well regulated.
He discouraged unsuspecting customers that such crypto monies are risky.
“Crypto currencies are issued by unknown entities. They crash frequently with the snap of a finger. They are not regulated. It is not advisable for Nigerians to invest in them.
“The CBN is soon coming out with a digital currency which will be more beneficial and we are going to sensitise Nigerians about it”, he said.
He debunked the speculations that the apex bank has plans to convert Domiciliary accounts of customers into Naira currency.
He said such speculation was wicked and unfounded, denying also that they have intentions to convert any other foreign currencies held by bank customers.
“It is wrong for such speculation to be rife that the CBN intends to convert customers’ Dollars or euro accounts into naira. There is no such plan at all.”
Speaking further, the apex bank boss assured that the Nigeria financial system is very solid, resilient, safe and stable, so much that Nigerians and foreigners should have confidence in it.
He said they also have a unit whose major function is to monitor and guide the activities of commercial banks to check how well they keep up with banking rules and regulations.
He assured that as it is presently, no customer can lose his moneys in any bank no matter the circumstances.
He however encouraged bank customers to habitually keep their banks on their toes by asking questions repeatedly about their funds, charges and deductions, saying it is their legal rights to do so.
He disclosed that they were able to cause the banks to refund over N92 billion to 23500 customers who lodged an array of complaints about bank charges.
“After we verified such complaints and claims and found them to be genuine, we were able to have such banks refund over N92billion to affected customers”, he said.
