We want new Naira notes, Ilorin residents tell CBN

Some residents of Ilorin have called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make the redesigned Naira notes available to the general public to avoid confusion.

They expressed concern over the non-availability of the new Naira notes in circulation, of which they claimed they were not aware of their existence.

The residents made the demand in separate interviews with the journalists on Saturday in Ilorin.

Mr. Salihu AbdulMalik, a mechanical engineer, said that the new currency almost caused a big problem near his office due to ignorance of its existence.

AbdulMalik explained that one of his customers ate a plate of food that cost N800 and paid N1,000 with the new currency, but the seller accused him of spending foreign currency.

"The man paid N1,000 for a plate of food he bought and demanded N200 change, but immediately the seller saw the new note, she raised alarm, accusing him of spending foreign currency.

"She called on people around and tore the man's cloth, saying that he wanted to deceive her and pay with an unknown currency note.

"The timely intervention of someone who confirmed the money saved the man from more embarrassment as many people at the scene are not aware of the new Naira note," he said.

Madam Iya Titilayo at Oja-tuntun also said that some traders are yet to accept the new Naira note from customers because they are not aware of its existence.

She explained that some people are aware of its existence but are scared that it may not be accepted by others and therefore refuse to accept it from customers.

Speaking with NAN, a member of the staff of one of the commercial banks in Ilorin who pleaded anonymity, however, assured that the new Naira notes would be available on ATM machines as of Jan. 31, 2023.

He explained that the release of the new Naira notes on ATMs would commence as soon as the old currencies stopped being in circulation, as directed by the government on January 31, 2023.

NAN recalls that the Federal Government approved the circulation of the new Naira since Dec. 15, after President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the redesigned notes on Nov. 23.

The new Naira notes include N200, N500, and N1,000 but have yet to be dispensed on ATM machines across the state.