THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has appointed Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor as its new spokesman.

A statement by the bank in Abuja said he would take over from the current spokesman, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi.

The appointment takes effect from April 2, 2012.

The bank also created two new departments as part of its internal reforms with a view to repositioning it to meet the challenges of the on-going banking reforms.

The two departments created are Corporate Communications to be headed by Mr. Okoroafor, as well as, Consumer and Financial Protection Department.

Mallam U. F. Shehu heads the latter.

According to CBN, the “Corporate Communications Department is to assume the mandate and functions of the erstwhile Corporate Communications Division of the Governor’s Department, while the Consumer and Financial Protection Department, created out of the present Financial Policy and Regulation Department, is to protect the interest of consumers with a view to promoting consumer confidence in the banking industry. Its role also include advocacy, enlightenment, education and promotion of awareness among consumers in the industry.”

With the latest two, the bank now has 27 departments spread under five directorates headed by the Governor and his four deputies.