We are unaware of currency printing – Finance ministry, CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed that it was unaware that Nigeria printed billions of Naira last month to lessen its financial difficulty.

This was after the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, claimed that Nigeria printed N60bn to supplement what the three tiers of government shared in March which CBN claimed was unaware.

Obaseki supposedly declared on Thursday that Nigeria was in enormous financial difficulty, claiming that the Federal Government printed N60bn in March as part of federal allotment last month.

He also showed concern over the increased borrowing of the nation, stating that it was improper to keep on borrowing without an actual plan for debt refund.

When reached to speak on the matter, the representative of CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, told one of our journalists that he was unaware of any N60bn that was printed.

“I am not aware of that N60bn printed by government,” he told our reporter on Saturday.

Also, when reached to comment on the N60bn that was supposedly printed in March 2021, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning stated that questions on the matter should be directed to the governor who made the claim.

The media aide to the finance minister, Yunusa Abdullahi, declared that the Governor of Edo State or the Central Bank of Nigeria should be reached.

“Please direct your questions to the governor who made the claim or the CBN,” he told our reporter.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the central bank and apex monetary authority of Nigeria established by the CBN Act of 1958 and started operations on July 1, 1959.

The CBN Act of 2007 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria charges the Bank with the overall control and administration of the monetary and financial sector policies of the Federal Government.

The objectives of the apex bank are to ensure monetary and price stability, issue legal tender currency in Nigeria among others.

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria is Godwin Emefiele.