Naira Scarcity: Continue To Exercise Patience – El-rufai Tells Kaduna People

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has pleaded with residents of the state to continue to exercise patience and not resort to violence over the naira scarcity crisis.

Naija News reports that the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has led to the scarcity of the currency across the nation, which has led to violent protests and deaths.

In a statewide address on Thursday night, El-Rufai urged the people to stay calm and peaceful, stating that no one would lose their old notes as a result of the deadline by the apex bank.

He also asked the residents to continue to use their old notes as legal tender as ordered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria until it says otherwise.

He said: “Let us stay calm and peaceful, and support the lawful means being utilized to solve our problems. On behalf of the Kaduna State Government, I wish to assure you that none of you would lose the money you have in old notes. Let no artificial and illegal deadline frighten you.

“Whether you live in towns, villages, or in our isolated rural communities, do not feel stampeded to deposit your old notes in the banks. Hold on to them. Continue to use them as legal tender as ordered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. No deadline can render them worthless, ever. The law is on your side. The Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, and the Bills of Exchange Act oblige the CBN to recognize your old notes and give you value in new notes whenever you bring them to the CBN, even in the next 100 years.

“Therefore, as your governor, I wish to assure you that the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with elected legislators, traditional institutions, elected local government councils, markets, and traders associations will help you collect, record, document, collate and deliver all your old notes to the Kaduna branch of the Central Bank on your behalf into the new ones immediately after the elections.

“We will also ensure the delivery of your new notes to your various locations without any hardship or expense on your part. We shall save you any panic and the stress of a long journey from your community to the CBN office in our state capital, from March until December 2023 if need be.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all the old and new notes shall remain in use as legal tender in Kaduna State until the Supreme Court of Nigeria decides otherwise. I, therefore, appeal to all residents of Kaduna State to continue to use the old and new notes side by side without any fear.”

The governor stated that his government would seal any facility that refuses to accept the old notes as legal tender and prosecute the owners.

He also encouraged the people of the state to be ready with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to vote in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He added: “The Kaduna State Government and its agencies shall seal any facility that refuses to accept the old notes as legal tender and prosecute the owners. If need be, we shall take further consequential actions according to the law.

“While urging you all not to fall for these antics of the enemies of Nigeria, please be patient and continue to exercise resilience in the face of open provocation and deliberate disinformation. We encourage you to be ready with your PVC to vote in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections. We are doing all we can to ensure that it is peaceful, orderly, and hitch-free.

“I appeal to you to understand the shenanigans of these unpatriotic elements in Abuja and ensure you vote massively for the intended victims of these last-minute policies of needless hardship and incitement of the citizens – our party, the APC and its candidates in all the elections.

“The Kaduna State Government is making this appeal, and taking all these measures to shield our people from the terrible consequences of the currency redesign policy. We seek to protect our people’s hard-earned money, and their ability to engage in trade and exchange and buy what they need.

“We also seek to protect their civic rights, liberties and freedoms under a democratic dispensation. I call on the people of Kaduna State to remain peaceful and vigilant in the face of brazen attempts to engineer crisis in order to get a pretext for unconstitutional or undemocratic actions.”