Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called for the arrest and prosecution of bank officials hoarding the new naira notes and helping money bag politicians from the bag door.
He also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to do everything possible to make the new naira notes available to end the hardship being faced by ordinary Nigerians in accessing the new currencies.
In a statement on Sunday in Kaduna, Hayab commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for insisting that the 2023 elections must be free and devoid of vote buying.
“Notwithstanding CAN believe that despite the temporary pains Nigerians face, the citizenry is prepared to support the President on the matter of the deadline, especially if it would assist to ease the tension in the country.
“Therefore, managers of banks who are found to hoard the new naira notes to create artificial scarcity, but are behind the public arena helping money-bag politicians to get the new notes, set the public up against the CBN’s new policy.
“Such banks and bankers should be investigated, and if found culpable, be made to face the wrath of the law”, the CAN Chairman said.
He added that Nigerians are yearning for the best and should not be made to suffer more unnecessarily.
He said, “CAN will continue to sensitize and mobilize our faithfuls to support any programme which results could bring about good service delivery for a better nation”.
