Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has issued a stern warning to residents of the state to start collecting old N500 and N1000 notes or risk being arrested and prosecuted
The Government noticed that business owners and traders were rejecting the old notes but in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Olubode, the governor appealed to them to stop creating hardship for residents.
Oyembanji insisted that by the virtue of the ruling of the Supreme Court, the old N500 and N1000 denominations remained legal tender till December, 31, 2023.
“This is an appeal to all residents of Ekiti to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court, which has provided a reprieve for the people by extending the validity date of the old naira notes till Dec., 31.
“As honourable people, what is expected of us is to abide by the ruling of the apex court and continue to accept the old naira notes as means of transactions and not to inflict further hardship on one another by rejecting it.
“Government will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute business owners found rejecting the old naira notes,” the statement quoted Oyebanji as saying.
He, however, assured that his administration will continue to explore avenues to make life more meaningful for the people, as it continues to build a more prosperous state.
The governor, therefore, appealed to the market women and men, artisans, transporters, filling stations, supermarket owners and school proprietors as well as service providers to remain law abiding and accept the old naira notes.
He also urged the commercial banks and Central Bank of Nigeria,(CBN) to make the old and new currencies available in their branches and at their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points in order to ease the stress residents go through to get money for their daily and commercial needs.
