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Bankers Committee Endorses Introduction of N5,000 Notes
The Bankers Committee yesterday endorsed the introduction of N5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying “it will reduce the cost of doing business’’.
Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr Philip Oduoza, made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the committee’s meeting in Abuja.
“Logically, the N5,000 notes will reduce cost of doing business and the total amount spent in printing the currency is going to reduce by 10 times.
“The cost of printing a currency still remain the same, whether you are printing N50 note or N5,000 note.
“So, if we print N5,000 note and print one million of it and do the same with N100, you find out that you have less physical currency as far as the N5,000 is concerned.
“Therefore, the cost will reduce when you are printing a bigger denomination,’’ he said.
According to him, it will encourage service efficiency, assuring that the introduction of the bill would not bring about inflation in the country.
He noted that the new note would facilitate reduction in the lending rate by commercial banks.
“So many things are involved in the lending rate.
“For instance, if the cost of production, management and transaction of currency is reduced, automatically many charges will drop including the lending rate.”
Oduoza also assured that it would be difficult to fake the new currency, “as higher denominations pass through a lot more scrutiny”.
On the recent complaint by the EFCC that banks’ were not cooperating with it in accessing the accounts of those indicted in corruption cases, Oduoza pledged that the banks would continue to work with the commission to ensure service delivery.
According to him, a committee on financial literacy has been established to look at the issues and engage the EFCC to facilitate improvement in relations to enhance the commission’s work.
Also, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs Bola Adesola, said that the new notes would only be issued to customers on request.
“Those who want the N5,000 note will get it, customers will still have the right to choose the denomination they want to use,’’ she said.
Adesola also noted that the apex bank had tried to maintain a stable inflation rate in spite of all odds.
CBN Director, Cooperate Communications, Mr Ugochukwu Okoroafor, said that the coins and notes would run side-by-side.
This, he said, would dispel the fears that the cost of commodities sold for N50 would automatically rise because N50 was converted to coins.
“Restructuring of the Naira will continue to be done in the best interest of the country and not to raise inflation and other issues as people are speculating,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman, Progressives Action Congress (PAC), Chief Charles Nwodo, said that the proposed introduction of N5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was counter productive and would “throw the nation into inflation”.
Nwodo, who made the remark in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said the controversy surrounding the proposed introduction of the N5, 000 note had become an argument between the poor and the rich.
He regretted that the upper class saw no reason why people should complain about the idea but the masses who would feel the pinch more carried the public opinion against it.
The chairman said government should realise that panic could influence inflation even though they believed that it was only monetary factors and market forces that could determine inflation.
“A mere rumour that subsidy will be removed raised the cost of fuel, especially at the black market by 3,000 per cent, and based on this, there is every tendency that business people will raise the prices of their goods.”
The chairman said that the proponent of N5, 000 note had gone far to inform the public that it was designed for the rich who could afford to carry huge amount of money.
He regretted that the statement contradicted the new programme of cashless economy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to him, it is not the quality of the denomination that matters but the value of that currency to the economy.
“ A person with N1,000 note and a person with two pieces of N500 note operate on the same level of currency.
He said N5,000 note could not reduce the amount of money in the market but could only reduce the denomination.
He urged the Federal Government to improve on the productive capacity of the economy, as it remained the major antidote toward building a robust economy.
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
