CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamaido Sanusi

By Obinna Chima

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the weekend washed its hands off a media report that it had directed the closure of commercial banks in Ogun State due to robbery scare in the state.

Head of Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, who said this in a text message to THISDAY, explained that the decision to close the doors of the banks to business could have been as a result of the risk assessment by the banks.

A national newspaper (not THISDAY) had reported on Saturday that following a robbery scare in Abeokuta, banks in the town had refused to open their doors for commercial activities due to fear of being attacked. 

It had further reported that the banks located in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu and Ijebu-Igbo would remain closed ‘on the directive of the CBN, indefinitely.”

But reacting to report, Abdullahi said: “The CBN has not directed the closure of banks in Ogun State. It must be the decision of the banks, independent of the CBN and probably based on their risk assessment of the situation on the ground.

“They are in business and if the environment is not conducive for their businesses, they can close shop. The decision is theirs.”