Nigerians now have until Feb 10 to swap old naira notes with the redesigned currency following the extension of the deadline previously set for Jan 31 by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The extension, which comes after a defiant interview by the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele yesterday, was announced on Sunday morning. Many credit it to the criticism of APC’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who voiced the concerns of ordinary Nigerians who frown at the rushed and chaotic nature of the process.
At a rally in Ogun State, Tinubu called on the CBN to review its timeline, particularly the deadline for the expiration of the old notes as legal tender, citing concerns about banking access in Nigeria’s vast rural communities.
The criticism was met with initial defiance by the CBN but as more Nigerians reiterated Tinubu’s stance, the agency has now announced a U-turn, giving Nigerians extra ten days to complete the swap.