The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has pleaded with the Central Bank of Nigeria to consider the extension of January 31 for the public to convert their old naira notes to the new notes.
Atiku dropped this plea on his verified Twitter handle on Saturday, 28th January 2023.
It was recalled that the CBN redesigned the old 200, 500, and 1000 Naira notes into new notes. Having given a space of 100 days for all Nigerian to deposit their old notes to the bank.
In his statement, he said, "the ongoing policy of the CBN to redesign the Naira has generated wide reactions across the country and beyond."
"The great number of Nigerians out of good conscience have expressed apprehension about how the policy in the deadline will make life more difficult for Nigerians.
"The large numbers and unbanked population who do their businesses, especially in the rural area will find it almost impossible to meet up with the deadline of January 31st to exchange their old bank notes for the redesigned currency."
Atiku also emphasized on the great challenges the farmers and artisans in the remote area are going through in moving their cash to commercial banks for possible conversion.
He pleaded with the CBN to slightly extend the January 31st deadline to ease the burden on the people.
My position on the CBN January 31st deadline on the new Naria notes. -AA https://t.co/FP3me2VLjZ
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 28, 2023