Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commercial banks and other stakeholders in the banking sector have called on Nigerians to embrace the e-wallet platform recently introduced by the apex bank, noting that it will deepen payments options.

They stated this, yesterday, while sensitising market women and men at the Etim Edem Park market in Calabar. The sensitisation was organised by the Bankers’ Committee.

Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, the Assistant Director, CBN Calabar, Mr. Chika Ugwueze, said the benefits of the new e-payment platform are not only innovative, but endless. He said that with the electronic payment system, Nigerians can do their business transactions even without visiting a bank branch.

Ugwueze noted that the e-wallet platform is all embracing, adding that it can be accessed using even the most basic phone.

“We are here to tell our people about the electronic platform; the e-wallet. Every Nigerian is expected to download its app and start making the most of this novelty. It helps to deepen our payment options.

“The CBN has developed different platforms for the e-naira, including the smart phone applications. There is also a platform that will enable you to use even the most basic phone in Nigeria,” he said.

A representative of Keystone Bank, Mr. Nsikak Ubong, said it would help to boost Nigeria’s economy, and urged Nigerians to take advantage of it to scale up their business transactions.

He expressed optimism that the new system will work in Nigeria just as in other climes, in spite of the initial challenges it is bound to encounter. He said: “E-naira will help to boost our economy. It’s working in other climes and we believe it will work in Nigeria. We are going cashless, and cashless we shall go.”

Representative of Zenith Bank, Mrs. Ebere Bassey, said there was no limit to e-wallet transactions. She, however, disclosed that the bank is currently in the phase one of the operations, which may be activated with less than #100,000 for the needed electronic transactions.