Real Reason Why CBN Extended The Deadline For Old Naira Notes To 17th February.
In addition to the 10 days extension for the swapping of the old naira notes by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Central Bank of Nigeria, has also said that a seven-day grace period, beginning on February 10 to February 17, 2023, has also been approved to enable Nigerians to deposit their old notes at the CBN after the February deadline when the old currency would have lost its Legal Tender status.
This followed the President’s meeting with the apex bank’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, in his country home of Daura, Katsina State on Sunday. Dez Mayorz Media learnt that many nomads in various forest in Nigeria are yet to return their naira notes.
The CBN governor is happy that enough naira notes have been returned as he said: “We are happy that so far, the exercise has achieved a success rate of over 75 percent of the N2.7trillion held outside the banking system. Nigerians in the rural areas, villages, the aged and vulnerable have had the opportunity to swap their old notes; leveraging the Agent Naira Swap initiative as well as the CBN Senior staff nationwide sensitization team exercise.
“Aside from those holding illicit/stolen Naira in their homes for speculative purposes, we do aim to give all Nigerians that have Naira legitimately earned and trapped, the opportunity to deposit their legitimately trapped monies at the CBN for exchange.
“Based on the foregoing, we have sought and obtained Mr President’s approval for the following:
“10-day extension of the deadline fromJanuary 31, 2023, to February 10, 2023; to legitimately held by Nigerians and achieve more success in cash swap in our rural communities after which all old notes outside the CBN losses their Legal tender Status.
“Our CBN staff currently on mass mobilization and monitoring together with officials of the EFCC and ICPC will work together to achieve these objectives.
“A 7-day grace period, beginning on February 10 to February 17,2023, in compliance with Sections 20(3) and 22 of the CBN Act allowing Nigerians to deposit their old notes at the CBN after the February deadline when the old currency would have lost its Legal Tender status.