Bank customers that are unable to obtain their bank verification numbers
(BVNs) before the close of business this Friday would not be able to
operate such accounts as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ruled out
another extension of the deadline, which expires this Friday.
The
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Bankers’
Committee had introduced the BVN on February 14, 2014. The initiative
was aimed at ensuring unique identity for all bank customers and other
users of financial services in the country by the use of the customers’
biometrics as means of identification.
At the expiration of the
initial estimated 18 months after the launch, a good number of bank
customers were reluctant in registering, which led to commotion and
stampede in banking halls across the country towards the end of the
previous deadline. That confusion necessitated the call for the
extension of the registration dateline by four months to October 31.
Data
from the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), showed that
20,833,635 bank customers had enrolled as at October 25, 2015.
“Given
the tradition of multiple accounts holding by an average Nigerian,
which could be conservatively estimated at about two or three per an
account holder, therefore, it could be safely assumed that over 40
million accounts might have been enrolled to BVN,” the central bank
explained on Thursday
Furthermore, some Nigerian banks’
customers in the diaspora have taken advantage of more facilities
provided for enrollment in more locations abroad.
“It is
evident that there has been less pressure in banking halls across the
country which goes to buttress the fact that a greater percentage of
account holders have been enrolled with the exception of those yet to
link their accounts to their BVN,” the CBN added.
The Deputy
Director, Consumer Protection Department at the CBN, Mrs. Khadija Kasim,
also urged those yet to be captured to do so before the deadline
expires.
“The initial deadline was June 30th before we
extended it to end of October. By now we expect all Nigerians to go
before the expiration date and get their bank verification number.
Please Nigerians, come out and ensure that you are registered for the
exercise,” she appealed.