The Nigerian government has been advised to stop banks in the country from selling airtime or recharge cards.
Doyin Okupe, a former aide to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, believes that by retailing recharge cards, banks are contributing to the already high rate of unemployment in the country.
In a tweet, the former presidential aide pointed out that the recharge card business is worth about 10 billion per day and is capable of providing Jobs for 5 million youths nationwide to reduce unemployment.
“Govt must stop Banks from selling recharge cards,” he said.
“This business is worth about N10B/day and can provide jobs for 5m youths nationwide and reduce unemployment.
“Banks should not be in the retail business where they strangulate small individual traders. Government must protect MSMEs,” he said.
Reacting to this a caller of Your View show, Mr Hassan from Lekki said, the government should call on the banks to stop to enable unemployed youths to have a job. The state and federal governments should either stop it or create employment for citizens.
While some argue that banks should stop selling recharge cards others worry about the cons and pros citizens face buying from retailers. Highlighting issues like theft and fraud some people prefer buying recharge cards from banks.
Do we go back to letting local retailers sell recharge cards or stick with the electronic way of buying recharge cards via banks?
See the video below for reactions!
