In order to ease circulation of naira notes, the Central Bank of Nigeria has directed all commercial banks to open for business on Saturdays and Sundays.
The directive by the CBN was a followed up on its earlier directive that Commercial Banks across the country should access the old naira notes deposited with the apex bank for onward disbursement to customers.
According to a statement issued by the acting Director, Corporate Communications of the Central Bank, Isah AbdulMumin, on Friday, he confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks across the country.
The statement noted that, a substantial amount of money, in various denominations, had been received by commercial banks, for onward circulation to their respective customers, even as it prevailed on banks, to conduct physical operations in banking halls through the weekends.
Excerpts of the statement read: “The CBN has directed all banks to load their Automated Teller Machines, as well as conduct physical operations in the banking halls through the weekends.
“Branches of commercial banks will operate on Saturdays and Sundays to attend to customers’ cash needs.
“The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, would personally lead teams to monitor the level of compliance by the banks in various locations across the country,” it stressed.
