By Ihie Grace
The Central Bank of Nigeria, has vowed to withdraw license from any Point of Sales operators that are collecting high charges from their customers amidst naira scarcity.
The Director, CBN Risk Management Department, Laise Ijebor, made this known in Edo state, while addressing journalists.
According to CBN, POS Operators are to collect N100 for N5000 naira charges, however, they have been collecting between N1000, N1500 and N2000 charges for every N5000 and N10,000 respectively, as customers are to pay N300 charges for every N1000.
According to him, the Apex bank was aware of the illegal acts of POS operators, adding that the CBN and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, would be going round to monitor the situation.
“We are monitoring the situation and anyone caught would have his or her license withdrawn and would not be in the business because we are going round with the EFCC,” Ijebor said.
Ijebor charged Nigerians to use alternative means of making payment for business transaction, saying “we have bank apps, USSID, POS and ATM machine to make payment”
“Customer should not be agitated, there is no need for any tension because your money is safe in the bank for now just get the little cash you need while using alternative means available to make payment”
While assuring that the CBN is working with the state government to improve the situation, he said they disbursed closed N1 billion to banks between Sunday and Tuesday.
“We gave banks about N400m on Sunday, N200m on Monday, and on Tuesday(Today), we have given N460m. So, we are pushing out money.”
“We are expecting a shipment of new notes. When that comes, we will move it into ATMs. I am hoping and praying that those ATMs that are empty now a lot will start working by tomorrow,” he added.
Also the commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, charged the people to use alternative means of making payments, assuring that the state government will join hands with the CBN in ensuring availability of cash through effective monitoring.