A Non-Governmental Organisation, Positive Relations Foundation (PRF), has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks, to take the Bank Verification Number (BVN) sensitisation drive to rural communities.

The National Coordinator of PRF, Mr. Obinna Nwaka, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

NAN recalls that the CBN, in a statement recently, said 32 million active bank accounts holders were yet to be captured in the ongoing BVN exercise as at September.

Nwaka said that the call for the improved awareness became necessary, given the low level of the awareness of the BVN registration in rural communities.

He said that many Nigerians who resided in the rural areas, were not aware of the exercise, as such were yet to be captured and might not be registered before the October deadline.

He said that in a bid to ensure that Nigerians keyed into the programme, PRF had been involved in creating awareness on the need for Nigerians to register.

On the fight against corruption, Nwaka said it was important to also sensitise Nigerians on the implication of involving in corrupt practices.

He said that many Nigerians were unaware of the penalties for involving in corrupt practices.

“When the bill for cybercrime was passed, so many Nigerians did not know the implications of violating that law.

“Many Nigerians are still not aware that the Senate has passed the bill on cybercrime.”

Nwaka called on Nigerian youths to desist from social vices and urged government at all levels, to formulate and implement policies that would empower the youths economically. (NAN)

•Photo shows CBN Gov. Emefiele