eNaira:  CBN targets 7,740 agents nationwide, deepens sensitisation

In order to deepen eNaira usage in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Saturday that it was targeting to establish at least 10 agents’ offices in each of the 774 Local Government Areas of the country, bringing their numbers to 7,740.

Speaking at the sensitisation event at the Galadimawa area of Abuja, a major hub for commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Khalipha Nuhu, Information Officer, who represented the Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Rakiya Mohammed, said the awareness drive remains a major plank in deepening the usage of eNaira.

He noted that the digital currency has many advantages, especially in currency security and convenience, adding that users do not need an internet enabled phone to transact businesses on the platform.

He added that the eNaira app has many unique functions as it allows users to operate using any of the three major Nigerian languages.

Nuhu added that with eNaira, the issue of change is eliminated as users can pay the exact amount needed in any transaction.

He noted that the digital product would be very important for players in the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and operators in the other sectors to lessen the risk of carrying naira.

He revealed that the CBN and its consultants on the eNaira project plan to register as many people as possible on the platform.

“We’re working with our consultant to engage Keke napep and motorcycle operators to tell them how they can come onboard. This will improve their knowledge of eNaira. We want to boost financial literacy and inclusion.

“eNaira provides a solidified and simplified platform and you can use *997# for the USSD operations and you can use the web also. The platform is user friendly.

“We have done many awareness campaigns across the nation and it’ll be a continuous process”, he said.

Also speaking, the Consultant to CBN on eNaira grassroot drive, Dr Aminu Bizi, noted that other states like Lagos were on the radar as major drivers of the awareness to ensure deeper penetration of the digital currency.

“We have to reach all and sundry. All you need is a phone and NIN. We will install an agent in this motor park. Anyone wanting to gain knowledge about eNaira can come there. This rally will go on for a couple of days. We target 10 agents in each of the 774 LGAs. We are also helping people get their NIN to ensure they are onboard”, he explained.

CBN, in technical partnership with Bitt Inc, launched the eNaira app on October 25, 2021, becoming the first nation in Africa and the sixth in the world to launch an electronic currency.

According to the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the launch of eNaira was timely and strategic in complementing the various diversification and digitisation initiatives of the Federal Government; including the launch of the Nigeria Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), the National Broadband Strategy, as well as the introduction of the Start-Up Bill and other initiatives.

The Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) aims to support the digital economy, improve economic activities, simplify and facilitate cross border payments and trade; ensure the inclusion of excluded people in the financial system; improve the effectiveness of monetary policies; ease tax remittance and collection to support economic growth and ease in administering strategic social interventions to support Nigerians.