The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a 10-day extension of the deadline for using old naira notes across Nigeria.
Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the apex bank, who spoke to journalists on Sunday, January 29, 2023. morning, said he had the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the extension.
The new deadline is now 10 February instead of the former 31 January deadline, he said.
Mr Emefiele spoke at the hometown of Buhari, a village called Daura, Katsina State, after a meeting with the president who is in his home state for official duties.
Mr Emefiele said Nigerians, who are yet to change their naira notes from the old to new ones, now have an opportunity to do so.
He said people must utilize the opportunity because the deadline will not be extended again.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, in October 2022, introduced redesigned 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes and gave a deadline of 31st January for the use of the old notes.
However, the new notes have been scarce, thus leading to calls for an extension.
Mr Emefiele did not elaborate on what the central bank was doing to resolve the scarcity of the new notes.
