Contrary to viral reports trending on social media, the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) has said there are no plans to shut down banking services for the 2023 general elections.
Social media was awash with rumours on Wednesday that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered the shut down of banking services for five days between February 23 and 27 “to checkmate vote buying.”
Reacting, however, the ACAMB in a statement on Wednesday, said that no Deposit Money Bank (DMB) or other institutions providing financial services in the country has received such a directive from the CBN.
ACAMB is the umbrella body of corporate and marketing communications professionals working in Nigeria’s banking sector.
The statement signed by President of the association, Mr. Bolarinwa reads in part, “Up until this moment, no Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) or other institutions providing financial services have received any directive or communication from the CBN to close the doors of their physical banking halls or shut their digital platforms and online banking channels against their customers because of elections.”
Bolarinwa, therefore, urged Nigerians to avoid panic spending, noting that banks have put measures in place to ensure seamless financial transactions during the electioneering period.
“Customers who wish to carry out transfers or use electronic banking services will have unhindered access to these services before, during, and after the elections.
“ACAMB urges Nigerians not to panic and to also avoid uncontrolled spending as a result of the fake news about the alleged plan to shut down bank branches and all digital banking channels.
“Members of the public should discountenance the trending message maliciously concocted by its faceless authors to cause disaffection among the citizenry and the DMBs.
“ACAMB calls on Nigerians to be peaceful and orderly during the elections and wishes the nation successful conduct of free, fair and credible elections,” he assured.
