By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that members of staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lafia Branch in Nasarawa State will now be able to contribute to the development of the nation’s economy.
According to Mr Buhari, the new state-of-the-art branch of the apex bank completed on August 13, 2021, will ensure a work environment conducive for staff to achieve this goal.
Speaking at the inauguration of the structure on Thursday, February 24, 2022, during his two-day visit to the state, the President applauded the Governor and management of the bank for the edifice.
Business Post reports that the CBN Lafia Branch comprises the main and ancillary buildings spread out with parking lots, fuel dump and security posts, water storage and treatment plants etc., positioned as appropriate and approved by the Nasarawa State Building Regulatory Authorities.
In his remarks at the event, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, thanked the President and Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and other Governors from neighbouring states for supporting the organisation.
Mr Emefiele said the construction of the state-of-the-art Lafia Branch was in line with the bank’s desire to take the services of the CBN closer to the grassroots, particularly as it embarks on delivering on Mr Buhari’s vision of delivering transformational agriculture in Nigeria and to Nigerians.
Furthermore, he said the new complex, which would provide a befitting workplace for staff, was also a fulfilment of the federal government’s objective of having a branch of the regulator in every state of the federation, for currency and business transactions by government agencies and corporate entities.
He also said the CBN’s Development Finance office in Lafia will work on delivering the dividend of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) and other agricultural initiatives of the bank to farmers and other agricultural extension workers in the area.
