Naira Scarcity: Top Northern Governor Orders Arrest of Anyone Rejecting Old Notes in His State
- Anyone who rejects the old naira notes in Zamfara state will be arrested, the governor of the state has ordered
- Governor Bello Matawalle said the old naira notes continue to be legal tender until the Supreme Court makes its final decision on the suit before it
- Matawalle also Nigerians have suffered immensely in their effort to have access to the new naira notes which are scarce
The governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, on Friday, February 10, ordered the immediate arrest of anyone who rejects the old naira notes from residents of the state.
Daily Trust reports that the governor said that the old notes remain legal tender in the state until the outcome of the ongoing legal battle between the Federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria with governors of Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara states.
Source: Twitter
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of new High Court Judges and newly appointed special Advisers held at the Government House, Chamber II in Gusau, Zamfara state's capital city, Matawalle said the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes will continue to be in use.
The governor added that he and his colleagues from Kogi and Kaduna had approached the Supreme Court to order the extension and validity of the old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes.
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His words:
“As you are all aware, the economy of the country as a whole has been plunged into a serious crisis by the decision of the Central Bank to cease recognition of the old naira notes as legal tender from February 10th.
"This decision compounded the already dire situation of our state occasioned by banditry and sundry crimes, which significantly disrupted economic activities in the State and the subregion over the years."
Further commending the Supreme Court for his recent ruling on the deadline given by the CBN on the use of the old naira notes, Matawalle Nigerians have had a hard time getting the new notes amid the scarcity of naira across the country.
Naira swap: Nigerian government asks Supreme Court to dismiss suit stopping deadline
The Nigerian Government challenged the Supreme Court’s decision to stop the CBN from ending the circulation of old naira notes on February 10.
Three state governors had asked the Supreme Court to intervene on the premise that the deadline would worsen the plight of Nigerians.
One day before the February 10 deadline given by CBN, the apex bank has left many Nigerians in limbo.
CBN to reveal next move as Supreme Court halts banning the use of old naira notes after Feb 10 deadline
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Central Bank of Nigeria will have to make a decision in the next few hours following a decision from the supreme court to halt the facing out of old N1000, N500, and N200 notes by February 10, 2023.
Justice John Okoro, who presided over the Supreme Court panel on Wednesday, 8 February 2023, restrained the Federal Government from suspending, deciding, or discontinuing the usage of old naira notes until it decides after an application from three northern governors.
It was reported that the three northern states had specifically applied to the supreme court to allow the use of now older naira notes after CBN's deadline date.
Source: Legit.ng
