Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
Residents of Agbor, Owa, Abavo and other parts of Ika Nation of Delta State have reacted to the scarcity of naira notes in the locality, describing it as worrisome and pathetic.
For about five days or more now, naira notes, whether old or new, have been almost out of circulation in the area, following the Central Bank policy of replacing the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes with the new ones.
The scarcity became severe as members of the public had returned all the old notes to the banks and could not access the new naira notes, just as the banks have been trying to hinge the situation on non availability of the new naira notes.
Sources in a bank in the area disclosed that CBN had ordered commercial banks not to give out old naira notes, else be fined, adding that the situation had resulted in more cash drought.
According to one Mr. Reuben Okwuose, the CBN had good intentions, but added that “things were not properly put in place.”
He stated that residents were going through hell to get their money from the banks.
“Banks are complaining that they don’t have cash. POS operators are now exploiting the masses. Imagine a situation they charge N2000 to withdraw N10,000
“Talking about cashless economy, network is so unstable. You transfer money to somebody, it will not go through until several hours. It is very frustrating,” Okwuose said.
On her part, one Mrs. Ogwu Joy, alleged that politicians had hijacked the naira notes meant for circulation.
“Now, we can’t buy things easily in the market as most of the traders have refused to accept the old naira notes and they don’t engage in transfer of money electronically because some of them don’t have mobile apps or being afraid of fake alerts.”
Also speaking, Comrade Emmanuel Onwuegbuzie, decried the poor state and mismanagement of things in the country.
“We queue to collect PVC, we queue to purchase fuel, we queue to collect money in the bank and ATM point all because some leaders in the country are clueless.
“We are now compelled to buy naira notes. I bought N50,000 with N5,000. The funny thing is that when you go to banks, they tell you that the new naria notes are not available.
“Some filling stations, organisations and traders in some communities are not collecting the old naira notes, despite the extension of the deadline for circulation of the notes by the CBN, Onwuegbuzie said.