The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to sanction any deposit money bank or Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator caught colluding to hoard cash.
The apex bank issued the warning in a Thursday statement signed by its Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi Ali.
CBN’s warning comes as the cash scarcity occasioned by the redesign of N1,000, N500 and N200 notes continues to bite Nigerians many months after the implementation of the policy.
“The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to alleged cases of collusion between some Deposit Money Banks and Point-of-Sale operators affecting the availability of cash and disrupting the seamless circulation of the Naira.
“The CBN frowns at such inappropriate actions by certain individuals and is investigating the reported cases capable of undermining the smooth running of the economy. The CBN has, therefore, warned banks and PoS operators to desist from such activities as relevant sanctions shall be meted out to those found wanting.
“Meanwhile, members of the public are encouraged to use alternative payment channels as well as report any case of unauthorised activities, such as capping and hoarding, by banks or PoS agents to the CBN branch in their locations,” the statement read.