Traders in the rural areas of the country have rejected the new Naira notes for transactions, barely few weeks to the final withdrawal of the old Naira notes from circulation.
For those aware of the new notes in circulation, they see the January 31st deadline for the withdrawal of the old notes as not realisable, and have therefore demanded an extension.
However, the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) has made it clear to them that the January 31st date remains unchanged and therefore urged them to beat the deadline.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, Minna branch, led by the Niger Branch Controller, Ademola Mohammed Saheed, had gone on a sensitization drive on the new Naira notes to the traders at the Ultra Modern Kure Market in Minna.
The traders said transactions with many traders, especially in the rural areas, had been very difficult because they are refusing the new notes from them.
They also said Banks and ATMs across the state are still dispensing the old banknotes, thereby forcing them to be transacting their businesses with the old notes.
One of the traders, Yusuf Mohammed, said, “those in the rural communities are not aware of the new banknotes and the deadline; and they are not even collecting the new notes from those of us who are privileged to have them. I think there is a need for increased sensitization of the new notes to convince them that they are legal.”
Speaking in the same vein, the Market Woman Leader, Rebecca James, also lamented that the traders have refused to collect the new banknotes when it is being given to them for goods bought, thereby making business transactions very difficult.