Some traders have refused to accept the Central Bank of Nigeria’s newly redesigned naira notes as legal tender.
The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Oct. 26 announced plans to redesign the denominated notes, saying the old notes would cease to be legal tender by Jan. 31, 2022.
He said the reason for the currency redesign was to stop counterfeiting and hoarding.
A food vendor at Cele-Egbe bus stop, Egbe, Alhaja Sofiat Balogun, said that she would not accept the new notes just yet.
“People say that the money is not fine and that it is not everywhere yet, I will not accept it until I see that it is fully in circulation.
“I do not want to start accepting it and when it’s time for me to spend it, it will be difficult for me.
“And secondly, I have seen on social media a video of a fake new note of N1000, this makes me even more afraid to accept it,” she said.
A fruit seller, Mrs Eme Jackson, said the reason she refused to collect the money is because the notes are too light.
“I prefer the old notes because it is very durable, no matter how you handle it, it will still remain strong unlike the new one.
“The moment I saw it, I told my children not to accept it, even in my absence,” she said.
Phone technician, Mr Ozuome Benedict, urged the apex bank to do a proper awareness on why they should accept the new notes.
“I do not have a problem accepting the new notes, the CBN should sensitise the people because so many are not aware that there’s a new note, that is why it is not accepted,” he said.
Meanwhile, a visit to some ATM machines around Ikotun, Ejigbo and Oshodi, showed that old notes were still being dispensed to customers.
(NAN)