By Dayo Omoogun
The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced the revocation of the licenses of forty-two (42) microfinance banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
This announcement came via a statement on the Corporation’s website on Friday.
“This is to inform the depositors, creditors, shareholders and the general public that the operating licenses of the under listed Forty-Two (42) Microfinance Banks (MFBs) have been revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective 12th November 2020,” the statement read, adding that verification of depositors’ claims is to commence Monday 21st, December,2020.
“The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the Official Liquidator of the banks whose licenses were recently revoked, is in the process of closing the listed banks and pay their insured Depositors.”
“We, therefore, request that all depositors of these banks should visit the closed banks’ addresses and meet NDIC officials for the verification of their claims, commencing from Monday, 21st December 2020 till Thursday, 24th December, 2020.”
Three of the affected microfinance banks based in Abuja are Hedgeworth, Future Growth and Cafon while those based in Lagos are Credit Express, King Solomon, Riggs, Billionaire Blue Bricks, Susu, Wealthstream, Aguda Titun, Metro and Mountain Top.
Those based in Kano State are Rogo, Bagwai, Makoda, Takai, Bebeji, Ajingi and Garko while Kogi State has six viz: Mopa, Solid Base, Ultimate Benefit, Ovidi,Unyogba and Wapo.
Others are Ere City MFB, Oriade LGA, Osun State; Akcofed MFB and Gufax MFB, Sapphire MFB all based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Partnership MFB, Onitsha, Anambra State; ICB MFB, Ilah, Delta State; Onima MFB, Ezinihite Mbaise LGA, Imo State; Hometrust (NATIONS) MFB, Nkwere, Imo State; Ringim MFB, Ringim, Jigawa State; Bigthana MFB, Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna; Kangiwa MFB, Augie MFB, both in Kebbi State.
The rest of the list is made up of Kirfi MFB, Kirfi LGA, Bauchi; Ibogun MFB, Ifo LGA, Ogun State; Korede MFB, Igbotako, Ondo State; Ahetou MFB, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Rivers State and Fufore MFB, Yola, Adamawa State.