A family in Gbako LGA of Niger State has been reported to have rejected the old Naira note for the bride price of their daughter, hence demands the new Naira note.
It was gathered that the suitor who came with the old N1,000 and N500 notes for bride price and money for other stuff in preparation for the wedding was asked to go back with the money and come with new notes.
Though the wedding was not postponed, guardians of the girl were said to have noted that with the CBN deadline of January 31, they were not ready to buy some things needed for the ceremony and that they did not have a bank account to deposit the money, hence their demand for the new notes.
A family member of the male suitor explained that, “We took money to the family of the girl we want to marry. They called me on Sunday to come and take the old currency notes back pending when we have the new naira notes. They said they don’t have anywhere to change the old notes. So, I want to take it to the bank pending when we get the new notes.”
He further said that many people were scared of collecting the old notes for fear that they would not be able to spend them before the January 31, deadline.
City & Crime gathered that rural traders in the state have started rejecting the old notes or shutting their businesses as commercial banks have continued to give out old notes.
The scarcity of the new Naira note has become a thing of concern as the deadline given by the CBN draws near. The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele had in a press briefing today in Abuja, insisted that the January 31 deadline still stands.
"I don't have good news for those who feel we should shift the deadline; my apologies. The reason is because 90 days should be enough for those who have the old currency to deposit it in the banks," he said.
