FILE PHOTO: Central Bank of Nigeria's logo is seen on the headquarters building in Abuja, Nigeria January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File Photo - RC1E81C7FA80
Old naira notes: January 31st deadline sacrosanct
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the January 31st deadline for circulation of the old N200, N500 and N500 notes to cease being legal tenders remained sacrosanct.
The CBN’sTeam Head and Deputy Director, Research Department , Abuja, Mr Kama Ukpai who stated this during a sensitization of stakeholders on the currency redesign at Eke-Afikpo in Afikpo North Local Government Area of the State, noted that the apex bank would sanction any bank still dispensing old Naira notes through the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
Kama said: “we are in Abakaliki. There are 14 commercial Banks. Out of the 14 Banks, 13 were dispensing new naira notes from ATMs. CBN will also sanction any bank that is dispensing old naira notes through ATMs.”
Also, Branch Controller of CBN in Abakaliki Branch, Mr. Daniel Amaechi Ogbogu noted that banks had been asked to come and pick up new naira notes from the apex bank.
He explained that the redesign of the currency was not politically motivated, adding that it was a mere coincidence that it is happening during election season.
Mr Ogbogu said: “Since the beginning of this week, we have tried to ensure that the new naira notes are in all the banks in Ebonyi state . We have been doing routine checks, checking all the ATMs to ensure that this new naira is being dispensed by the various ATMs in the various banks.
“We have also sent a team to go round and ensure that all ATMs are dispensing. From the reports, we got about 95 per cent of ATMs dispensing the new naira and those ones that are not dispensing. We have giving them mandate to ensure that we don’t want to come to the ATMs and see that they are still dispensing old naira. For us in Ebonyi state, I think is a successful one.
“We have asked banks to come and pick up the new naira notes from the CBN. I also want the public to know that if you go to any ATM and they are dispensing old notes, report them to us because we have asked the banks to ensure that all their ATMs dispense new naira notes and any banks that gives out old naira will be penalized to ensure that no ATM is dispensing old naira notes.
The Chairman of Afikpo Market Amalgamated Association, Comrade Johnson Inya-Oka appealed for the extension of the deadline due to insufficiency of the new naira notes.
He said: “For me, the time given as the last date is short because up till now, the banks are not dispensing the new naira notes as far as here is concerned both in the ATMs. If you go to the ATM, each ₦100, 000 you get about five pieces of the new naira notes and that is the challenge we are having.
“We don’t have any challenge of CBN is fast to change the old money, no problem, but for now, the two banks in our area is still giving us old naira both at the ATMs and counter. But for me, I will advise that they extend the dates because the banks in Afikpo are not dispensing the new naira notes and even some aged people in the market here have not seen the new naira note.”
