By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has appealed to bandits to drop their arms and embrace the federal government’s initiative, the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
The apex bank chief made the call at the end of a two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, saying embracing the programme will be of help to the terrorists.
“I would like to appeal to our brothers, who decide that they want to live in bushes and forests that they should please, begin to retreat, drop their arms and come and embrace the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.
“If they do so, it will help them but if they choose not to do so, they will be confronted by the security as this battle continues,” Mr Emefiele said.
Mr Emefiele pointed out that the activities of these criminals were taking a toll on the nation’s economy as security could influence a nation’s growth.
“If you expect an economy to grow, the level of insecurity must be low because if there is a high level of insecurity, then the economy will suffer,” the central banker said.
He, however, expressed optimism over efforts by security operatives in combating various challenges facing Nigeria, announcing that the country is expecting six fighter aircraft before the end of the year.
“I am optimistic that the security operatives are doing their best to tackle insecurity,” the CBN head noted.
“About three years ago, the federal government and the United States signed a pact that resulted in a government-to-government acquisition of military equipment out of which we are expecting 12 Tucano aircraft or fighter planes that will help combat insecurity.
“I am aware that six of them are coming to the country in the month of July and August. I am optimistic before the end of the year, around the year of the end, the security challenges confronting the country will substantially abate,” Mr Emefiele added.
The ABP was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015 with the aim of creating a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and Smallholder Farmers (SHFs) of the required key agricultural commodities.
The initiative is to provide farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to smallholder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilize inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food.
The CBN initiative is also to promote economic diversification and discourage over-reliance on crude oil earnings and boost economic growth.
Dipo Olowookere