A statistics have revealed that the number of bank customers despite Central Bank of Nigeria’s efforts to promote financial inclusion is on the decline.
The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) banking industry statistics show that the number of customers using financial services reduced in 2017.
According to the figure obtained by NAN from the website of NIBSS, the total number of bank customers dropped from 61 million in 2016 to 59 million in 2017 just as active bank accounts reduced from 65 million in 2016 to 63.5 million accounts in 2017.
The report, however, revealed that the banking sector made great strides in linking customers’ account using the Bank Verification Number (BVN) showing that linked BVN accounts grew from 26 million in 2016, to 41.3 million in 2017.
NAN reported that it gathered from banking industry source that the reduction in banking customers is connected to the federal government’s anti-graft battle.
It said its findings revealed that many people abandoned their accounts, especially civil servants because of fear of investigation.
