A Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has asked the Federal Government to extend the deadline for acceptance of the old Naira notes by “at least three months”.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Afenifere asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline because Nigeria is in a critical moment.
Recall that the redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes entered into circulation on December 15, 2022, and were scheduled to have replaced the old designs by January 31st as legal tender.
The change, according to the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele was introduced to tackle currency counterfeiting and terrorism financing among other vices in the country.
However, Emefiele subsequently announced the extension of the deadline by 10 days, saying the extension had been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Since last week, protests have been recorded in Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Enugu, and Oyo states. Some turned violent.
According to Afenifere, the February 10 deadline is “certainly unrealistic”.
Daily Trust quotes the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Jare Ajayi as saying: “This is a momentous period in Nigeria given the number of lives that have been lost, given the number of businesses that have collapsed and are in danger as a result of the unavailability of naira.
“People are queuing in the banks to get the cash – they don’t (even) get the cash.
“And within the next few weeks, we would be undergoing elections.
“We are saying that first, CBN must flood the commercial banks with cash, especially new currencies. Two, the deadline must be extended. February 10 is certainly unrealistic. It must be extended for at least the next three months.
“Afenifere is insisting that February 10 is unrealistic for Nigerians to be able to get the currencies.
“Also the need to ensure free, fair and credible elections must attract the attention of the council of state. So that tomorrow we would hear that the president has extended the deadline for the currency swap from February 10 to at least the next three months and then, of course, all necessary machinery must be put in place to ensure free, fair and credible elections.”
We don’t want the extension people are using it to exploit us we poor through POS and bank charges are higher please end it.
You’re very correct. What they should do is to tell the banks and their managers to release our monies for us. They’ve printed enough of the new for circulation. Let them release our money for us.
My names are chijioke njoku kalu know as Dinkyblaq ..am here to give an opinion .which is ..this country is getting worst everyday by day . I plead on our leaders especially our president buhari and the CBN to allow the old niria and the new one to exist.. Is gradually gradually the old niria will go ..becaue this new niria of a thing is coursings hunger ..hardship. Frustrating and cashless in the societies.. I pegged the CBN and the president to solve this matter to the Nigerians ..
If this cashless of money remain this way ..tell me how people can or will be able to come out to vote on this election.. When everyone is frustrated and hopeless. Allow the societies to get access to their money.. People are always crying and begging just to get cash for feeding.. But no way .why are we suffering this way in this country ..please I plead our leaders and the CBN to release cash and allow people to have it .is their money and their swete ..people are begging. Crying. And frustrated on what belongs to them ..please our leaders help us ..we are innocent of all this tribulations and agony.. Help us ooooooo allow the old and new nirria to function..
Hmmm this is naja may Allah show us throgh
What is going on in in this country is very bad because many people have died through the hardship that is going on in the country. Many have died of hunger, unable to pay hospital bills, terrorist have claimed thousands of life many youths have ritualist call Yahoo.what kind of leadership. God please come and help us