Okowa sues for calm amid naira scarcity riots

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has appealed to Nigerians to remain calm amidst the scarcity of the new naira notes.

Mr Okowa, the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), appealed in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, on Wednesday in Asaba.

“As a government, we are not unaware of your sufferings, but we appeal to you to be patient with the monetary authorities as they take steps to improve the money supply in the country,” Mr Okowa said.

The governor’s appeal came on the heels of protests by some state citizens at Orhuwhorun community in the Udu Local Government Area, where a bank’s ATM gallery was reportedly torched.

While calling on the people to remain calm, he also appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the monetary authorities to increase the cash supply in the system.

“We appeal to our brothers and sisters across the state to keep calm in spite of the current travails they are going through as a result of the scarcity of naira notes in the country.

“We are very much aware of your pains and concerns, but burning down a bank that employs our people will not augur well for us as a nation, even as it will not also solve the problem but further compound the situation.

“Once again, we appeal to you all to sheath your swords while we continue to engage the CBN to ensure more funds are released to the banks in the country,” Mr Okowa said.

(NAN)