Super malls, markets, traders on Friday in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja have started refusing the old naira notes prior to the deadline which is January 31st, 2023, as Nigerians faces tough time to scarcity of the new notes.
Our Correspondent who went through some super malls in Abuja, realized a notice pasted outside the malls notifying customers that old naira notes could not be used for payment anymore as customers looked for alternative.
Central Bank of Nigeria CBN stood firm of not shifting ground on the deadline, also denied the scarcity of the new naira notes in a news conference in Jos, the Apex Bank said it has massively supplied new notes to commercial banks to dispense both at counters and ATMs.
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele who was ably represented at the event by the Director, Payment System Management Department, Musa Jimoh said, the huge supply of the new notes is to enable quick circulation across the country.
Meanwhile, crowd continue to fill up at all ATMs in Abuja while people struggling to get the new naira notes according to our Correspondent, who got comments from some Nigerians at the ATM gallery, Kadiri Folashade said, “this is hardship for Nigerians going through so much pain to get the new naira notes”.
Mr Bolaji Olajuwon lamented how he had to come earlier but could not get cash as ATM refused to dispense after spending hours on a long queue but still went and come back again. “I don’t know why we have to go through this hell before getting our own hard earned money”, he said.
Mrs Victoria William said she doesn’t know what to say in this present situation. According to her, “I’m so mad right now, atleast if the Central Bank should have made enough provision for these new note. We wouldn’t have been going through this stress before getting the money we work for”.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday, has reacted to the stress Nigerians going through to deposit their old naira notes and get the new one, saying the government’s currency swap is not meant to target innocent citizens but corrupt persons and terror financiers hoarding illicit monies.
While assuring Nigerians that the government will ensure that they and their businesses will face no harm from disruptions caused to the entire supply chain arising from currency swap according to a statement signed on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
Recalled that last year November, the Central Bank announced that it will redesign the N200, N500 and N1000 notes of the Naira. It said populace has until January 31, 2023, to return all old notes to commercial banks.
