The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), says it will implement the cashless policy system introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria at the forthcoming Enugu Christmas fair.

The Director-General of the chamber, Mr Emeka Okereke, told newsmen in Enugu, recently that the fair would be used as a pilot study to practicalise the policy, identify the flaws and create opportunities for policy drivers to strengthen it.

Okereke said the chamber would partner with some financial institutions to make the policy a success during the fair.

He said that the implementation of the policy would help sensitise the South East economic zone and reduce financial instability and corruption.

He added that “Since the cashless economic policy of the CBN came into play, we want to use the event to intermarry the policy of cashless economy for people to practicalise on it as much as possible.

“People need to share the experience; where there are flaws, it will provide opportunity for policy drivers to see how they can identify the gaps and strengthen the policy.

“The idea is that people will try as much as possible to practicalise e-exchange of goods and services whereby they pay with their mobile money or visa card. It does not mean that cash will not exchange hand but we want to use it as trial or pilot project to see how the issue of cashless economy can come into play.

“He said that is basically the key thing about this year’s event and we are doing our best to see that key stakeholders buy into the programme.”

He disclosed that organising the fair would cost N7 million, adding that assistance was needed from stakeholders to make the event a success.

On security, Okereke said that a security committee had been inaugurated to ensure a hitch-free Christmas fair.

Okereke, however, called on the public as well as small and medium scale operators to key into the event as it would be to their own advantage.

The fair has been scheduled to hold from November 30 to December 10.