Emefiele added that CBN would provide all needed support to INEC to ensure credible general elections.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has assured that the bank will not be used or seen as being used to disrupt the 2023 general elections.
Emefiele spoke on Tuesday during a visit from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and his management team.
His statement came in the wake of allegations by politicians that he is trying to scuttle the chances of the ruling party at the polls because he was not allowed to partake in the presidential primary.
Emefiele, however, told INEC that the CBN had always been supportive to the electoral umpire in whatever way possible to ensure that it delivered on its mandate of ensuring hitch-free elections.
“Before now, we have been involved in the storage of INEC election materials and his involved using our armoured bullion vans to transport election materials.
“We are happy that in the course of this relationship, we have not disappointed you and that is the reason you have come again this time.
“Now, just aside from the issue of storage of election materials together with transportation of election materials from CBN locations to your own specific or designated locations, I know that just a few months ago, I visited your office.
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“You raised the issue of how foreign exchange can be procured to you to import Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other forms of election material that need to be imported and I gave you my word that foreign exchange will be provided for that purpose,” he said.
Emefiele added that CBN would provide all needed support to INEC to ensure credible general elections.
“I stand here to confirm that as at today, all foreign exchange needed to import those items has been provided and those items have been imported. So, it’s all part of our commitment.
“Now this issue of paying logistics for people who are going to be transporting election materials to wards, certainly I give it to you that because we regarded the INEC project as an urgent national assignment, it cannot fail.
“The CBN will not allow itself either to be used or to be seen as an agent that frustrated positive outcome of the election.
“So I give you the commitment that if in this case, after making your electronic payment you require some money to pay transporters, in this case cash, I give to you is that we will make it available,” Emefiele said.
Yakubu, on his part, noted that INEC was determined to make the 2023 general elections one of the best in Nigeria.