ABUJA, Nigeria – The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed grave concerns over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s recent move to relocate some of its departments from Abuja to Lagos.
This decision, amid operational efficiency considerations, has sparked debate about the implications for national unity and the status of Abuja as Nigeria’s capital.
A source close to the matter revealed to Vanguard that Governor Yemi Cardoso of the CBN has justified the move citing the large staff strength at the Abuja headquarters.
According to an internal memo, reported by the newspaper on Sunday, January 14, 2023, the Bank Supervision Department, along with Other Financial Institutions, Consumer Protection, Payment System Management, and Monetary Policy Departments, are among those affected by the new policy.
The memo stated, “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimize the operational environment of the bank. This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilization of our office.”
AYCF’s National President, Yerima Shettima, responded to this development with a warning that relocating these key departments could undermine national unity, cause economic setbacks, and create regional imbalances.
In a statement on Saturday, January 20, 2024, Shettima emphasised the strategic importance of Abuja, asserting, “Abuja was deliberately chosen as the capital to promote national unity and decentralize power. Any agenda that seeks to tamper with this arrangement will be fiercely resisted by AYCF and its supporters.”
Shettima urged the Northern elite and all well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against what he termed “emerging arbitrariness.”
He reiterated AYCF’s commitment to its mission of promoting unity and development in Northern Nigeria and across the nation, vowing to continue advocating for the preservation of Abuja’s status as the capital city and to resist any attempts to undermine national unity.
