Jan.31 deadline: Traders, artisans vow to attack banks over new naira notes in Ibadan

JOSEPH OKWUOFU, Ibadan

Many banks in the Ibadan metropolis in Oyo State have been threatened with violence, as traders, artisans and other business operators vowed to shut down and destroy any bank that refuses to collect old naira notes after the January 31, 2023 deadline.

The Central of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered all banks to adhere strictly to the January 31 deadline, even as banks in the city of Ibadan were unable to dispense newly redesigned naira notes from the ATMs and over the counter due to scarcity of the new naira notes.

When this reporter went round the city today, there were avalanche of complaints from traders , artisans and others on the unavailability of the new naira notes in the banks.

A visit to some of major banks in the city also confirmed their claims, as the banks’ operators complained of not been in possession of the new naira notes in their vaults.

Some of the traders vent their anger over the situation, warning that if the government is not careful, there will be violence and anarchy after the January 31 deadline.

A middle age trader who refused to disclose his name threatened to lead mass protest to any bank who refused to collect old and dispense new notes after the deadline.

He accused the government of playing politics with the lives of the people, and warned that the government will be held responsible over the consequences.

According to him, the CBN deliberately want to create scarcity, and cause breakdown of law and order, by failing to supply new naira notes and placing unrealistic deadline.

He said ” we are nor begging the CBN to extend the deadline. We know much about what is happening. Let them continue with their mischief, but they must know that no one has monopoly of mischief.

“Let him that has ears hear and let him that has eyes see, because they will not be there to tell the stories. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and nobody should claim to be above others. A word is enough for the wise.”

As at today, some business owners in some parts of city are rejecting the old naira notes.

The rejection of the old notes is coming amidst the scarcity of the newly redesigned naira notes, and the worse aspect was that they were not getting the new notes from the banking halls and ATMs.

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