You may be wondering why the streets are littered with persons trekking.
Well, Nigerians have resorted to trekking as tricycle (Keke) drivers begin to reject the old Naira notes.
People walk distances that they could have covered in an autorickshaw ride.
Earlier in the day, fuel stations refuse to receive old Naira notes from the commercial tricycle operators.
Nigerians are now bearing the brunt of the old naira notes rejection.
Outright Rejection Of Old Naira Notes
No profession was spared as persons were spotted trekking in their corporate outfits.
The wide rejection of the old naira notes began on Tuesday after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), insisted that the old Naira notes ceased to be legal tender on February 10.
Following that announcement was a fresh guidelines for the deposit of old notes at any of its branches across the country from February 15 and 17.
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The development sparked an outright rejection of the old Naira notes.
Nigerians, who were not expecting the CBN’s decision, found themselves stranded at various locations.
A Failing Economy
The rejection of the old notes has also affected small and medium-scale businesses across the nation especially as the new notes are still scarce.
Lamenting over the situation, some traders say they are unable to purchase goods due to the enforcement of the cashless policy.
It cots us a lot of hardships, they claimed.
The traders said the rejection of the old naira notes by wholesalers was almost ruining their businesses.
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One of the women who gave her name as Rasheedat Oyebola said many of her colleagues face harsh hunger condition and poverty if the CBN stood its ground on the old Naira notes.
She said: “We have tried all that we could but to no avail.
“That is why we have decided to go round today to explain our plights to Nigerians so the CBN governor can have mercy on us.
“Some of us here today are single parents and we have been struggling all our lives.
“If the money we have are refused as legal tender, some of us may die of hunger and poverty.
“We appeal to everyone who can help us to as a matter of urgency come to our aid.”
The Politics
Other Nigerians who reacted to the development insist that the Naira swap policy is all part of the politics in the country, as the 2023 election draws near.
Others insist that the CBN Governor, Emefiele is using the Naira swap policy as payback for failing to bag the APC presidential ticket.
A road user who gave his name simply as Ime said that Nigerians politicians were playing politics with people’s lives.
“This is the first time in my entire life, that I’m witnessing a country’s currency in scarcity, even our fore fathers never witnessed such.”
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Also, a large section of Nigerians further alleged that the Naira swap policy was a plot to rig the elections as electorate may find it difficult to get to their polling units to cast their votes.
This is because people who provide the service are refusing the old Naira notes while the new ones are not in circulation.
This they say is giving chance for rigging of the elections.
On the other hand, others described the recent happenings as enough reason to cast their votes and put an end to bad governance.
