By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
A cross section of Nigerians have condemned the action of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to succumb to the blackmail of desperate politicians to extend the deadline for the old naira notes to seize to be legal tender in Nigeria.
The apex bank had in the early hours of Sunday announced to the public that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the deadline for the collection of the old naira notes to pave way for the redesigned new notes as legal tender in the country.
The embattled Emefiele, who announced the unexpected extention said Mr. President has granted a 10-day extension period, pointing out that the old notes would still be in circulation till February 10, 2023 instead of January 31, 2023.
He spoke after a meeting with President Buhari on Sunday.
According to him, “We have sought and obtained Mr. President’s approval for the following:
A 10-day extension of the deadline from January 31, to February 10, 2023; to allow for collection of more old notes legitimately held by Nigerians.
A 7-day grace period, beginning on February 10 to February 17, 2023, in compliance with Section 20(3) and 22 of the CBN Act allowing Nigerians to deposit their old notes at the CBN after the February deadline when the old currency would have lost its Legal Tender status.
“We therefore, appeal to Nigerians to work with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure a hitch free process for the implementation of this very important program,” the CBN Governor said.
However, Prompt News reports that some Nigerians are angry that the CBN Governor succumbed to the manipulation of corrupt politicians who kicked against the redesigned naira notes and have opposed the policy with every weapon in their armoury including blackmail.
Chief John Agbolahan, a retired civil servant based in Benin City, Edo state capital said he came back from church service to learn about the extension of time, saying that the federal government should not have granted a 10-day extension period after many Nigerians have adjusted to the timeline given by the CBN.
Said he: “Both the federal government and CBN have given wrong impression that the politicians call the shots in Nigeria because anything that did not favour them will not be allowed to succeed”.
Alhaji Musa Alhassan Goro, a resident of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja posited that President Muhammadu Buhari should not have approved the extension of the deadline for the collection of the old naira notes to pave way for the redesigned new notes as legal tender in Nigeria as announced by Emefiele.
According to him, the extension of time is unnecessary and should not have been given because there was enough time frame since the CBN announced the naira redesign and period to turn in the old naira notes by Nigerians.
He argued that only corrupt politicians who have stocked the old naira notes which they intend to use for votes buying are demanding for the extension of time which they have now gotten by the announcement of the CBN on Sunday.
Meanwhile, most of the grocery stores visited by Prompt News in the FCT on Sunday have either stopped collecting old naira notes or put out notices informing the public that they will seize to collect the old naira notes from midnight on Sunday.
