Claim:
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is shutting down bank transactions from February 23rd to 27th to prevent politicians from buying electorates’ votes.
The screenshot of the claim.
Full Text
A widely circulated claims on social media handles (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok) that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will shut down Bank transactions from 23rd to 27th of February, 2023 to prevent votes buying.
Also read, NRTC CHECK: Has CBN ordered N500 and N1000 old notes to remain legal tender?
A Twitter user, Kesena Owode, @folomenere, tweeted that there was going to be shut down across all Banks networks to sabotage vote buying during this election on Saturday, then there is going to be serious network issues tomorrow since there will be a mad rush to do transactions.
Screenshot of Kesena’s claim,
His tweet further stated that our matter for this country get as e be! o).
Also read, <strong>NRTC CHECK:</strong> <strong>Buhari didnāt order EFCC to raid Tinubuās house</strong>
In the same vein, missKelliebaby, @MsKelliebayb said, “This government shutdown shit is real. Like, tomorrow is payday and my bank account is gonna look the same as it does today, but I still have my obligations to meet.
Screenshot of missKelliebaby’s claim.
What will know
Nigerians, since the introduction of the newly redesigned new currency [N200, N500; N1,000] have been groaning about the nonavailability of the new notes.
Their groaning continued following their inability to make transfers as a result of failed online banking and the network issues of many Banks.
The news of shutting Bank transactions from tomorrow got them surprised, having to starve themselves for five days due to the Saturday election.
In the circulated claims obtained by NRTC CHECK, people were urged to stock their houses with foodstuffs and make sure they have cash with them, as no one knows when the shutdown order will be reversed by the CBN.
Nigeria Presidential and National Elections will hold on Saturday, 25th of February across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 93.5 million Nigerians with youths constituted the highest number of registered voters we determine who will rule the country for the next four years.
As of the press time, INEC has inspected ballot papers and distributed sensitive materials that were kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria office in the states ahead of Saturday polls.
Also, security agencies, observers and other stakeholders involved in the electoral process have been deployed.
Our findings
NRTC CHECK found out that the news shared across social media pages was ‘fake’, purportedly released to mislead Nigerians, and caused chaos in the country ahead of the Saturday election.
Debunking the news on its official social media handles, CBN urged Nigerians to disregard such claims, that the apex Bank has no such intention.
Verdict: False! Available information from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, shows that Bank transactions are not shutting down from 23rd to 27th of February, 2023.
Conclusion
This claim by netizens and Nigerians that Bank transactions will be shut down from tomorrow is FALSE, NRTC CHECK confirmed.
NRTC CHECK findings show that the claim was created to cause chaos for Nigerians ahead of the Saturday, February 25th presidential election.
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