NO GOING BACK ON DEADLINE FOR OLD NAIRA NOTES: CBN TELLS ONITSHA TRADERS

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has enjoined residents and traders in Anambra State to ensure they deposit all old naira notes in banks before the 31st of January.

The Director, Other Institutions Department, CBN, Awka, Mrs. Nkiru Asiegbu, made the call when the Awka Branch of the apex bank went on sensitization tour to Tools and Allied Material Market, Bridge Head Onitsha, Anambra State.

Mrs. Asiegbu announced that the CBN will not extend the deadline, hence the need for the people to strive to deposit all old notes of #200, #500 and #1000 before the last day of January.

According to Mrs. Asiegbu, the Awka branch of the apex bank, had met with heads of all commercial banks and directed that they begin the distribution of the new naira notes without further delay.

She also called on the Operators of Point of Sells, (POS) and other financial institutions to ensure that they deposit all old currencies with them to commercial banks as new notes would be issued them for their business transactions.

Two traders, Mr. Nwabueze Igwe and Mr. Sylvester Ekweonu, however, expressed worry that commercial banks and point of Sells operators were still issuing the old naira notes to customers.

Two others, Mrs. Nkechi Ogbu and Mr. Solomon Ejike, noted that the deadline was too short to mop up all the old currencies in circulation across the country and appealed for the extension of the period.

The Central Bank team encouraged the people to embrace the new redesigned naira notes, which had been approved by the Federal Government.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU