The Coalition of Nigerian Entertainers has frowned at the non-accessibility of the fifty billion naira Creative Industry Loan coordinated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Coalition led by Amb. Kenule Nwiya Jnr registered their displeasure at their courtesy visit to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami in Abuja.
“We want to express our displeasure over the inaccessible and manner of which the CBN have built a wall against the Creative Industry Practitioners.
“We are aware of the creative industry loan that is being coordinated by the central bank of Nigeria and we have been unable to access that loan.
“So we decided to come, to have a familiarization talk with stakeholders and see how to resolve the issue’’.
Nwiya said the coalition had tried sending letters to draw the attention of the governor of the CBN towards the challenges in obtaining the loan but had not gotten any response.
“They have been shying away from seeing us, so we have decided to come to one man that we think and feel that is accessible to lay our complaints.
“We have observed the ease with which the agricultural loan and other loans are being accessed but the creative industry loan has not been accessed,’’ he said.
He questioned the alleged monetary policy press briefing claim of the CBN governor that more than fifty billion naira loan has been accessed by the industry.
“We went back to our people to ask all creative industry groups if they have accessed such loans and they all said they have not accessed the loan.
“So we decided to draw the attention of the minister to help us talk to the CBN governor to publish the names of all the creative industry practitioners that have accessed that loan.
“Then we will know that truly, the creative industry practitioners accessed that loan,’’ he added.
He, however, said that the coalition will support all the peace initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari partner critical stakeholders for a peaceful nation.
“We will continue to create awareness to the grassroots of the need of to be peaceful to enhance the growth of our dear nation.
“We wish to have a critical partnership with the federal ministry of justice, CBN, FIRS, TETfund, NNPC, etc to access the grassroots’’.
Responding, Barr Abiodun Aikomo, Special Assistant to the President, who represented the Minister, however, advised the coalition to formally write and document their request with the minister. He assured that all their requests would be duly communicated to the Minister.
“ I note your concern about the loan that the CBN is championing, although we will not be able to speak about that because it’s obviously independent of the office of the Attorney General.
“I will pass your requests as part of this report, but will counsel that you formally write to the minister so that there will be a basis for him to engage with the CBN.
“It’s a very serious issue that you have raised. If a loan was made available or created to help an industry, it’s the spirals and the consequences on the overall economy’’.
Aikomo said that if the people who are meant to be beneficiaries claim or allege not to be benefitting, then it’s a serious matter that the Attorney General will be interested in pursuing.
He also appreciated the role that the group is playing in nation building, noting that development of a nation is a collective responsibility.
“It is a collective task that everybody is involved in, every society works like a system and a system works when all the components of the system play their distinct roles’’.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a proposal for a `celebrity aggressive campaign against covid-19 and other social vices to the minister by the coalition.
The proposed programme will take place across the country.
