Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja have expressed their disappointment with the process of swapping the old Naira notes with new ones in commercial banks, even after the deadline was extended.
The Quest Times reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday approved the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) request for the extension of the deadline for swapping of old Naira notes to the redesigned ones till February 10.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had given an ultimatum of January 31 for the old Naira notes, which includes the N1000, N500 and N200, to be accepted.
The inflow of the new notes has been very slow as frustrated customers are made to stay in queues for long hours without getting attended to.
It was gathered that most banks made it known to customers that there is no money or a required amount has been placed to be disbursed per day and per customer.
The process of implementing the new Naira note has caused POS agents to sell the currency at a higher rate, that is for owners that were able to have some cash at their reserve.
The usual N100 service charge for N5000 withdrawal is now N500 at some POS locations in Abuja.
Mrs Tanko, an FCT resident said, “I don’t know if this is strategic or just pure wickedness, they made us deposit all our money only to extend the date and now we don’t have access to our money.”
Another resident who identified as Abel said, “Right now I don’t even want the new currency, they should give me the old one, I have to deposit money to Asokoro hospital and they only accept cash, no transfer, and the bank only gave me 20,000 which is not enough.”
Reality Star Hazel Oyeze Onou, popularly known as Whitemoney made claims on social media that N700,000 is sold in clubs for N1million, saying Nigerians are the ones bringing problems to themselves.
He said, “Nigeria is a beautiful country but we just have corrupt people in various sectors that serve human purpose.
“How do you explain no money no money in the bank both new note and old note but I went to a party yesterday seeing bundles of mint new notes, who is selling or giving it to them?
“The worst part is that the money is expensive as hell, N700,000 is selling for N1million with N300,000 gain on it, na we dey do ourself.”
People were seen around AYA, Asokoro roaming around the area and stranded, with no means to go home or even go to work the next day.
“I don’t know how I go take reach house, talk more of wetin my family go chop,” Mr Kola Badmus said.
Citizens were seen trekking as some transport services would not collect the old money.
Mr Jibril Suleiman who works at Central Area Abuja, said “I had to walk all the way from Lifecamp garage to the main road because they did not accept the old money there, it was very painful and stressful because I was in a rush.”
Citizens fear that the crime rate might increase as there is scarcity of Naira notes, this might lead some individuals to start stealing and doing whatever they can to survive.
A business woman, Miss Elode said, “At the end of the day it is us the masses that will suffer for this, do you see any influential person on this queue? When this gets too much you’ll be surprised how far people can go to survive.
“It’s not like we are stealing from the bank, it is our sweat, tears, sleepless nights and hard work. Should we suffer to get it? if this is not wickedness, I don’t know what else to call it.
“If the CBN was not ready for the new change then they would have left us alone. Are we not suffering enough?”