TheCable

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the president on foreign affairs and diaspora, says more time should be given to Nigerians in the diaspora to register for the bank verification number (BVN).

The aide made this plea in response to the move of the federal government to seize monies in accounts without BVN.

In December, TheCable reported that 46 million accounts had not been linked to a bank verification number.

In a statement issued in Abuja by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, special assistant (media) to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, she implored CBN to make it possible to all Nigerians in the Diaspora to have their BVN done in their countries of abode.

“Nigerians in the diaspora have been remitting billions of US dollars back to the country on yearly basis, the highest on the continent of Africa, thus contributing to the socio-economic development of the country,” the statement read.

“I hereby appeal to the CBN to look into the challenges the Nigerians living abroad face in getting their BVN done and extend the deadline for them to get it done.”

The presidential aide also pleaded with the commercial banks to make the procedure easier for their customers, especially those living outside the country, to be able to meet up with the new deadline.

“This is why the attorney-general of the federation should intervene in this matter to assist our Nigerians living abroad who at disadvantaged by allowing them more time to comply with the BVN directive,” Dabiri-Erewa pleaded.

Currently, deposits can be made into accounts without BVN but not withdrawals.