The Central Bank of Nigeria has kept quiet as the deadline for banks to restrict customers’ accounts without a Bank Verification Number, BVN or National Identity Number, NIN has expired.
Recall that the CBN, had in a notice on December 1, 2024, signed by the Director of Payments System Management Department, Chibuzo Efobi and Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Haruna Mustapha, directed banks to ban tier-1 accounts or wallets without NIN or BVN.
The CBN acting spokesperson, Hakama Sidi has yet to release a statement regarding the way forward after the March 1 deadline expired, and concerning the fate of banks’ customers who are without NIN or BVN.
Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with DAILY POST, the President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Dr Uju Ogubunka, made an entreaty to CBN for a deadline extension.
According to him, although many accounts have NIN or BVN, there are still a lot of people without the stipulation.
A source who wanted anonymity in a tier-1 bank had informed that no customer account had been barred owing to the NIN or BVN requirement.
At the moment, no customers’ accounts have been restricted. Customers in the last three days have trooped in to update their account”, he said.
Yesterday, it was reported that a lot of bank customers were seen, in a last-minute rush to meet up with the NIN and BVN requirement deadlines as they besieged their respective banks to avoid being cut off.
