OSUN State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has lamented the unavailability of new naira notes in the state, saying even as the state helmsman, he did not have in his possession, the redesigned naira notes.
The governor then urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to sanction commercial banks found to be hoarding money.
Adeleke spoke in his office, while receiving officials of the CBN, Osogbo branch in his office on Monday, decried increasing shortage of the new notes.
The governor also disclosed that he had been making efforts to douse tension and ensure safety of banks and the CBN state office.
A statement by the spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, quoting Adeleke obtained in Osogbo on Monday, further read, “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.”
“My people are patient but we should not take their patience for granted. That is why I called for this meeting. Why are the new notes not available? Is the supply small or inadequate?
“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.”
Responding, the CBN state director, Oluyemi Adeyemi, 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.
“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,” Adeyemi concluded.
