KWARA state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has warned residents against rejecting the old naira notes.
A statement by Rafiu Ajakaiye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, on Tuesday, March 14, described the rejection of the naira notes as a criminal offence.
“As per the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the latest circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the old naira notes still remain a legal tender in the country. Banks are now officially issuing the old Naira notes (including N500 and N1,000).
“I, therefore, urge all residents of our state to spend and receive both the old and the new Naira notes. This appeal especially goes to our marketers/traders. Further rejection of the old Naira notes is in breach of the Supreme Court judgment,” he said.
The governor also implored banks to support the people and ease their transactions.
Last week, Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello also issued a warning to residents over the rejection of old naira notes.
Bello had threatened to arrest and prosecute residents rejecting the notes, adding that a committee would be set up to ensure strict compliance.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had fixed January 31 as the deadline for using the old naira following a redesign of the notes, despite the scarcity of the new notes.
The deadline was moved to February 17 by the CBN, but the Supreme Court of Nigeria, on Friday, March 3, nullified the Federal Government’s naira redesign policy and declared that the old N1000, N500 and N200 notes remain legal tenders till December 31, 2023.
More than a week after the court ruling, the CBN remained silent on the official deadline for using old naira notes before releasing a statement on Monday, March 13, complying with the court order.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.