PUNCH
Nigerians living in the Diaspora have voiced frustration over the lack of assistance from the Central Bank of Nigeria and banks in facilitating the linkage of their bank accounts with their National Identification Numbers.
The President of the World United Consumer Organisation, Clement Osuya, who raised the alarm in an interview on Friday, said the perceived neglect had become a source of discontent, as individuals feel unsupported in the crucial process of aligning their banking details with the mandatory NIN requirement.
He bemoaned the apex bank for not offering any viable means for Nigerians living abroad to link and obtain their NIN.
Recall that the CBN mandated all commercial banks in the country last year to restrict tier-1 accounts without a proper Biometric Verification Number and NIN link by March 1, 2024.
According to Osuya, around 70 million bank accounts are at risk of being frozen by their respective banks.
The CBN also directed that a ‘Post No Debit’ restriction be placed on all bank accounts without the BVN and NIN from March 1, 2024.
‘Post No Debit’ is a term used to describe a restriction imposed by banks on specific accounts, preventing customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits from such accounts.
This measure effectively freezes the funds in the account, rendering them inaccessible for the duration of the restriction.
Banks have hesitated to block the affected accounts and preferred to reach affected customers through short service messages and e-mails.
Osuya noted that the directive placed a burden on Nigerians in the diaspora as it mandated them to visit enrollment centres for physical biometric capture.
He revealed that those in the diaspora could not comply with the NIN registration deadline owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions.
“This requirement significantly burdens Nigerians, especially those residing abroad, as it mandates them to visit enrollment centres for biometric capture at NIN centres physically. As such, it presents substantial logistical and financial challenges for diasporan Nigerians.
“Compliance with the NIN registration deadline has been made exceedingly difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions, further exacerbating the struggles of diasporan Nigerians.
“It is imperative to highlight that over 70 million accounts are at risk of being blocked if they are not linked with the NIN. Yet, there are no explicit provisions for remote linkage or alternative processes for Nigerians in the Diaspora,” he stated.
He, therefore, demanded an immediate review of the directive and called upon the CBN to introduce robust and accessible means for Nigerians outside the country who do not have NINs to link to their accounts.
