Old naira swap extension: CNPP calls for sanctions against banks hoarding new notes
*Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele
(Nigeria) Conference of Nigeria Political
Parties, CNPP, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving a 10-day
extension of the deadline for the swapping of old currency to the newly
redesigned Naira notes.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr
Godwin Emefiele, had during his visit to the President at his Daura country
home disclosed that President Buhari had approved the extension of the deadline
after their closed door meeting to enable Nigerians, who were yet to exchange their
old Naira notes with new ones, have opportunity to do so.
The CNPP, in a statement by its Secretary
General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, on Sunday, urged the apex bank to ensure that
commercial banks do not hoard the new notes again, calling on all security
agencies to immediately swing into action, “as a matter of patriotic duties to
ensure that the new notes do not find their way into bullion vans belonging to
some politicians and their allies.”
While calling on the people to ensure that
they utilise the opportunity provided by the new swap window to immediately get
their old notes exchanged, the CNPP hailed President Muhammadu Buhari “for
showing the political will to keep to his promise that no politician would be
allowed to compromise the ongoing electoral process.
“The CNPP has been observing with keen interest
the ongoing currency swap and has a reasonable suspicion that there are
anomalies which could be attributed to some commercial banks and politicians
bent on sabotaging the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari on ensuring free,
fair and credible elections in 2023.
“For this reason, we call on all security
agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the
Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force, to carry
out already issued presidential orders on ensuring that no money bag-politician
compromises the 2023 electoral process.
“The best legacy of President Buhari
administration is the redesigned high denominations of the Naira notes,
comprising N200, N500 and N1,000, which have become legal tender since December
15, 2022, after they were unveiled by President Buhari on November 23, 2022, in
Abuja.
“We equally call on the House of
Representatives to target commercial banks and their collaborators who have
been hoarding the new notes, not the CBN Governor, Mr Emefiele, who is simply
following presidential directives.
“From the continued attack and threats on
the CBN Governor, rather than cooperating with President Buhari administration
to ensure the success of the ongoing cashless policy of the federal government,
federal lawmakers are now making Nigerians believe that they are working to
sabotage the President's good intentions.
“We therefore urge the authorities to
ensure that banks and individuals hoarding the new notes are appropriately
sanctioned in accordance with the law,” the CNPP stated.
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