Any bank debtor still riding in private jets instead of bicycles cannot convince anybody of insolvency, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said on Saturday, in Lagos.
Emefiele, who said the apex bank would ensure that all debts owed to banks would be recovered, added that it would confiscate private jets belonging to loan defaulters if it came to that.
Emefiele, who was in Lagos on a visit to the Dangote refinery and fertiliser project site, regretted that the chunk of the loans in the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria was being owed by Nigerians, adding that Nigerian banks were willing to support entrepreneurs in the country but needed credible people, with the will to borrow money and pay back.
He said: “In any case, the central bank will not allow you to borrow money and not pay again. The era has gone. Now, when you take a loan, you will pay. If you don’t pay, we will take your money wherever you keep it.
“If you are driving private jets, we will seize the private jets so that you can begin to ride on bicycles. Then we will know you are truly a liquidated person.”
The nation’s number one banker, was full of praises for President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for the projects, saying the CBN would continue to support entrepreneurs willing to come out and contemplate projects where people can be gainfully employed.
“Today, there are 34,000 people working in this facility; in the next two months, it will double to almost 65,000 to 70,000 people in this complex.
“That is how a country creates prosperity, and that is why we are coming out boldly that we will support anybody. And we will put in place policies that will protect and make sure that for coming out to develop our economy, grow agriculture, manufacturing and industry, and the central bank rakes in dollars to fund our obligations, we will appreciate them and we will continue to do so,” he said.
