In a coordinated effort to facilitate the circulation of banknotes of all denominations, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed all commercial banks to operate on Saturdays and Sundays.
Also, the CBN acknowledged the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks throughout the nation.
This new development was reported in a statement written by the CBN’s acting director of corporate communications on Friday afternoon in Abuja.
The statement added that commercial banks had received a large amount of money in various denominations for recirculation to their respective consumers, even as it compelled banks to conduct physical activities in banking halls on weekends.
The message includes the following excerpts: “The Central Bank of Nigeria has instructed all banks to load their Automatic Teller Machines and undertake physical operations in the banking rooms over the weekends.
“Commercial bank branches will be open on Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate customers’ cash demands.
It was emphasised that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, will personally lead teams to examine the banks’ level of compliance in various places across the country.
Thus, the bank advised Nigerians to be patient, as the current situation will soon improve as additional banknotes are introduced into circulation.