Zaria (Kaduna State):  Depositors of the three banks categorised as nationalised banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been advised not to panic.

The CBN Deputy Governor, Alhaji Suleiman Barau gave the advice in Zaria on Sunday while interacting with journalists.

He said the depositors’ monies would be intact and that there was nothing to worry about.

Barau emphasised that “no depositor’s money will be missing, hence the need for calm.”

He advised the banking public to continue their transactions with the banks, adding that the three banks had been fully taken over by three strong banks to ensure the safety of investors’ money.

The CBN deputy governor listed the banks as Keystone, MainStreet and Enterprise, saying that “government had invested huge amount of money in these banks.”

He, however, noted that “it is not our responsibility to determine whether a bank is distressed or not, it is the responsibility of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).”

The three nationalised banks were BankPHB, Sky Bank and AfriBank.

On the controversy surrounding the Islamic banking system, Barau said it was aimed at attracting large segment of Nigerians who did not keep their money in conventional banks.

“Many people do not keep their money in conventional banks because of religious belief but with the Islamic banking system, many will now want to deposit same in the bank.

“It is the duty of the CBN to give authority to those who seek it for them to legally operate.” (NAN)Jos : Sen. Gyang Dantong has advised Nigerian leaders to emulate Britain’s handling of the London protests to rid the nation of incessant violence.

In Jos on Sunday Dantong said “Insecurity and crises are worldwide, but what matters is the way we handle such situations,’’ .

“The perpetrators of the London violence have been arrested, tried and sent to prison, unlike in Nigeria where those arrested were usually freed.

“If anyone had said that London will be insecure today, no one would have agreed, but that is the reality.

“So, you can see that the handling of the violence is the difference; In London, hundreds have been arrested, charged to court and jailed; The rioters have been taken off the streets and away from the society.

“But in Nigeria, no one is punished. Those arrested over various killings are promptly left off the hook. Since they are sure of going scot-free, they will commit the same crime tomorrow.’’

Dantong advised security agencies to turn a new leaf and work toward punishing offenders to serve as deterrent to others who might harbour similar intention.

He also called for a strong patriotic collaboration among all agencies charged with punishing offenders in Nigeria and condemned the trading of blames that usually ensued anytime there was such massive breakdown of law and order. (NAN)