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Naira Scarcity May Push Nigerians Into Depression, Suicide —Psychiatrist

Published

1 year ago

February 8, 2023

Editor

A Professor of Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Taiwo Sheikh, has warned that the scarcity of the old and new naira notes will push many Nigerians into frustration and depression.

He also said the situation would worsen the cases of suicide in the country if the Federal Government fails to urgently address the problem.

Prof. Sheikh, who is the immediate past President of the Association of Psychiatry in Nigeria, said the situation if not checked will plunge a lot of Nigerians into mental health crises that will require hospital admission amid a scarcity of manpower and infrastructure.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH HealthWise, the psychiatrist lamented that a lot of Nigerians are frustrated and distressed by the naira scarcity.

He noted that Nigerians no longer enjoy optimum mental well-being as a result of recent happenings in the country including fuel scarcity.

The don said, “This scarcity of naira has already increased the rate of mental illness in the country. For an adult to strip himself naked in the bank is not normal. It is no longer what you consider to be normal.

“For people to be punching each other, carrying iron to be hitting one another in front of automated teller machines just to be able to get some money is not normal.

“These are evidence of frustration and when people are frustrated, there is a kind of transferred aggression. When you cannot face what is causing the frustration then you transfer the aggression elsewhere. Most of the time, you transfer it to others. The naira scarcity is generating a lot of frustration.”

Prof. Sheikh reiterated that if the situation is not checked, the country would have more people with mental disorders.

The professor warned, “If this distressing situation and the frustration is not checked, it will lead to mental illnesses that will increase the state of suicide in the country. There is no doubt about that, one thing leads to the other.

“People will develop depression and anxiety disorder. They will become psychotic, suicidal, and homicidal. People will attack others because of the transfer of aggression, and so many things.

“For those who have mental illnesses already, their situation will worsen.”

According to the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, more than 60 million Nigerians are suffering from mental illnesses, noting that only about 10 per cent of them can access appropriate care.

Prof. Sheikh clarified that mental well-being is not a mere absence of mental illness but the ability of an individual to cope with the day-to-day challenges of life without hurting another person.

“Now, when we say mental illness and we say optimum mental well-being, there is in-between that illness and mental well-being. That in-between is what we refer to as this period of distress and frustration.

“So, if you don’t handle such distressed situations very well, they can progress to clearcut mental illness. And if you can handle such a situation of distress adequately, then you can resolve it and then, your optimum well-being comes back. And you can face the challenges of life and move on. Situations like naira scarcity disrupt optimum mental well-being,” he said.

Giving insight into the importance of having optimum mental well-being, Prof. Sheikh said, “Your ability to have your aspiration without hurting another person and pursue it within the expected norms of socio-cultural setting and contribute to the development of your community.

“So, once a distressing situation like this comes in and you have to throw yourself naked in the banking hall, then your ability to cope has broken down. Then you are no longer enjoying optimum mental well-being.

“It does not mean you are sick at that time, but you are distressed enough not to enjoy optimum mental well-being anymore. If we can address your situation at that time, then you can reverse back to optimum mental well-being. But if we are not able to reverse your situation at that time, then you can go on to develop a frank mental illness that will require treatment and hospitalisation.”

According to him, the current situation in the country has shaken the optimum mental well-being of Nigerians and pushed many people towards distress and frustration.

“It has shaken them of that comfort zone of optimum mental well-being. They have shifted away from that comfort zone. Nigerians longer enjoy optimum mental well-being.

“So, we are struggling to cope and in our struggle to cope, we start throwing our anger at others and start showing abnormal behaviours.

“If the situation is not properly managed, then a lot of people will end up with mental illnesses that will require treatment.

“We are already on the edge. If it is not checked, then we are going to have more people with mental disorders,” the psychiatrist explained.

Prof. Sheikh urged the government to do things that will bring down the frustration in the land.

He said, “Government should do something very appropriate that will reduce suffering, frustration, and distress that people are going through.

“Government should make more money available to people to be able to have access to the basic needs of their lives.”
PUNCH

Business

Naira Slumps, Exchanges At Over N1,500 Against Dollar

Published

7 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The naira continued its depreciation against the US dollar in the foreign exchange market.

Data from the parallel market section and FMDQ showed further depreciation against the dollar on Monday.

At the parallel market, a Bureau De Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Mistila Dayyabu, told DAILY POST that the naira was sold as high as N1,517 per dollar on Monday before settling at N1,500 per dollar.

“On Monday morning, the dollar was sold at N1,517 per dollar. However, on hearing the information about the coming of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives, we started selling at N1,500 this evening, ” he said.

The figure increased from the N1, 450 per dollar it traded at the weekend.

Similarly, at the official market, FMDQ data showed that they dipped to N1478.11 per dollar on Monday from N1466.31 last Friday.

This represents an N11.8 drop from the N1466.31 recorded last Friday.

Earlier, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will do everything to bring down soaring Nigeria’s inflation, which stood at 33.22 per cent in March 2024.

Business

CAC Opens Centre For Registration Of PoS Operators

Published

5 days ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

The Corporate Affairs Commission has inaugurated a centre for bulk registration of Point of Sale operators in its database.

The CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Magaji, said this while inaugurating the centre stationed at its Federal Capital Territory Office in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Magaji, the importance of registering the PoS operators in the commission’s database cannot be over emphasised.

He said the centre was well equipped with all the necessary facilities to operate 24 hours a day and ensure the commission’s achievement of its purpose.

“What we did was accommodate the request from the Fintechs.

“We have allowed them to integrate with the Corporate Affairs Commission; they have developed their structure, and we gave them access.

“Once they supply the necessary details for registration on their platform, the certificate is generally generated and transmitted directly to their platform without them having to contact anyone.

“We have done this to ensure that everyone gets it easy without hitches, but if they choose to apply manually, we have a secretariat open for them to do so,” he stated.

Recall that the Federal Government through the CAC on Tuesday issued a two-month registration deadline to Point of Sales companies, to register their agents, merchants, and individuals with the commission in line with legal requirements and the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, at the event, the registrar-general reiterated that the centre would be opened to all operators in the fintech industry who voluntarily submitted their agents and merchants for regularisation with the CAC.

Magaji said that the registration was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s desire to ensure financial inclusion for the youth and strengthen the fight against fraud, finance and other crimes in the country.

He further expressed his resolve to ensure compliance with the provisions of Section 863 (1) of the Companies and Allied Matters, CAMA 2020, and the CBN guidelines for Agent Banking, 2013.

On security, the CAC boss said that if a crime were committed using the PoS, the government would easily trace the perpetrators to the CAC data platform if such machines were registered.

“If an incident happens and they report it to CAC, if we do not have the operator’s details, we cannot respond, and that is the essence of this registration.

“The registration ensures that every detail of the person is provided, including NIN, passport photograph and all other useful documents.

“And it is an opportunity for more people to be captured into the formal sector,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Innovation, Tokoni Peter attended the event.

The event was attended by Dr Salihu Dasuki, the Special Adviser to the President on ICT Policy Office, the PoS operators, and other stakeholders.

(NAN)

Business

FULL LIST: CBN Publishes List Of Licensed Deposit Money Banks

Published

6 days ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria has released a comprehensive list of licensed Deposit Money Banks operating within the country.

The list, which was made public on the CBN’s official website on Tuesday, provides insights into the banking landscape in Nigeria.

Banks with international authorisation include Access Bank Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Limited, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank Limited, United Bank of Africa Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc.

Commercial banks with national authorisation include Citibank Nigeria Limited, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Heritage Bank Plc, Globus Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, Polaris Bank Limited, Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Limited, Titan Trust Bank Limited, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Premium Trust Bank Limited and Optimus Bank Limited.

Commercial banks with regional licenses are Providus Bank Limited, Parallex Bank Limited, Suntrust Bank Nigeria Limited, and Signature Bank Limited.

Players in the non-interest banking sector with national authorisation include Jaiz Bank Plc, Taj Bank Limited, Lotus Bank Limited, and Alternative Bank Limited.

In the merchant banking category, the apex banks listed, are Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, FBN Merchant Bank Limited, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited, Nova Merchant Bank Limited, and Rand Merchant Bank Limited.

The financial holding companies listed were Access Holdings Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, FCMB Group Plc, FSDH Holding Company Limited, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Sterling Financial Holdings Limited.

The Mauritius Commercial Bank Representative Office (Nigeria) Limited was listed as the sole representative office.