The scarcity of naira notes resulting from the Central Bank of Nigerias currency redesign policy is affecting the militarys counter-insurgency operations in the countrys volatile north-east states, Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume has said.
Ndume, who represents Borno-South in the Senate, told newsmen in Maiduguri, Bornos capital yesterday, said that he decided to cry out because he was worried at the negative impact of the scarcity of naira notes on troops operation against terror groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to him, “The CBN cashless policy which brought scarcity of the new naira notes is affecting the security operations negatively.
He said many troops have to leave their duties and queue at ATMs for hours, looking for cash to buy basic things for their needs, which may not be within what the military authority should provide for the operation.
He cited a case of a soldier that was lynched at an ATM point by an angry crowd in Maiduguri, mid-week, while attempting to jump a long queue in order to save time and return to duty within the hours given to him by his commander.
He explained that it was not good for security personnel deployed to battlefields to end terrorism and other criminal activities to be distracted because of cash scarcity. He urged the authorities to provide ways to ease this challenge, as according to him, it could compromise the security of the nation and the gains achieved in the war against terrorists in the North-East.
Sen. Ndume maintained the cashless policy by the CBN was good, but said its implementation was a breach of the Constitution the and rights of Nigerians.
He urged the CBN management to listen to the cries of Nigerians. He said the idea of mopping-up money outside the banking system was not tenable, as many politicians and rich people still have access to the new notes while ordinary Nigerians with less money suffer.
