By Musa Yaro, Calabar
Ahead of January 31, 2023, deadline for the submission of old Naira notes, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), on Friday, embarked on a sensitization campaign for the people in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The exercise which is organized for states in the South-south zone, took the organisers to the popular Calabar markets, Watt and Marian, including the University of Calabar, to create awareness among traders, motorists, and students.
They distributed flyers with inscriptions like “Support the new naira notes”, and “Change your old naira notes before 31st of January, 2023”, among others.
The head of the South-South civil society desk, Lilian Cosmas flanked by 40 youths, informed newsmen after the exercise, that it is imperative for the people of Cross River to rush to the banks and swap their old Naira notes with the new ones before the January 31, 2023 deadline.
“In markets, this development will boost the economy while creating vistas for students to gain access to qualitative education.
“This is the new naira Nigeria we are talking about, new naira notes, new Nigeria, and new policy.”
“For politicians piling up old naira notes in their houses, it is time for them to go to the banks and drop their money,” she said.
Fielding questions on banks’ reluctance to dispense the new Naira notes, she said new notes were already in circulation, affirming that after the exercise, she would adequately inform the authorities of the development.
Cross River is the first state in the South South where the CBN embarked on the sensitisation campaign.
Others to follow will be Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo states.
