By Abdul lawal
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed a challenge it initially had in pushing out the newly redesigned N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the CBN to have said the challenge was that people refused to deposit the old banknotes, but that the situation has changed now.
CBN Branch Controller in Lagos State, Mr Koyor Baribokola made the disclosure on Tuesday during a sensitisation tour of Balogun Market.
“We are having much deposits now; this gives us the confidence to push more new notes into circulation and into the economy.
“We are making them available to you and you will have them if you haven’t had them before. Please have the assurance that you are going to have them.
“We pushed out a lot last week and today we are continuing with it, part of the meeting was what delayed my coming out here,” Baribokola said.
While assuring that the apex bank has made the redesigned Naira notes available for marketers and traders via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Mr Baribokola stressed the January 31st deadline to phase out the old Naira notes has not changed.
“We set a date for the deadline for the complete change over that is Jan. 31, and for now, that stands. We have not extended or changed the time.
“So, between now and the Jan. 31, all the old 1,000, 500 and 200 notes you have in your possession, bring it to the bank and then take new ones,” Baribokola said.
He encouraged stakeholders to be the apex bank’s mouthpiece by spreading the message, and to protect and keep the new notes safe.
“Please have the assurance that the new naira notes were redesigned in the interest of all Nigerians including you so that you have them and you enjoy spending them and keep them safe, and as much as possible, try and also do electronic transactions.
“We encourage people to use our e-channels to do transfers, to spend, to buy and to do all that you need to do to share with your friends and your families,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Head of Union Homes Success Market, Oloyeola Bisi Balogun, commended the apex bank for choosing to begin its sensitisation with the traders.
She, however, urged the bank to carry out more awareness campaigns on the new notes, particularly at the grassroots.
According to her, there are many people who are yet to see the new notes. “Let them relate more with the grassroots because the percentage of the people at the grassroots is more than those people in urban areas.
“The CBN has tried to improve the economy through the redesigned notes but we all know that in Nigeria when something is introduced newly, there’s bound to be complaints.
“We also had the same complaints when the old notes that we are used to now, were first introduced,” she said.
Mr Amos Adamu, a dealer in suitcases, who saw the new notes for the first time, said “I have never seen the new notes but if the redesigned notes can make Nigeria a better place for the masses, I support it.
“Because changing these three denominations will affect the poor because many do not have bank accounts to go and deposit the old notes.”
Also, Mrs Rebecca Ukachi, a trader, said though she disliked the new notes because they looked like fake notes, she would collect them whenever customers bring them to buy goods from her.
“Let us be sincere, the new notes look fake but I do not have an option, I will collect it because it is legally acceptable, but I still prefer the old notes because of the quality,” she said.
The redesigned notes – 1,000, 500 and 200 notes came into use on Dec. 15, 2022.