Businesses in FCT defy Supreme Court, reject old naira

Some businesses in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, are rejecting the old naira notes despite a Supreme Court order temporarily halting the ban on their use.

Earlier, the Central bank of Nigeria extended the deadline to phase out the old notes to February 10.

However, last week the Supreme Court judgement restrained the apex bank from implementing the February 10 deadline pending a proper hearing on Wednesday on the matter.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, residents have lamented that traders and businesses have started rejecting the old notes in the nation’s capital.

Mr Ndubuisi Ugwu, a taxi driver, insisted that boarding passengers should have new Naira notes.

Justifying his decision, Ugwu said he is not accepting the old notes because fuel stations have begun rejecting them.

He said there needs to be more clarity concerning the matter.

“I went to fuel my car at the station with the old notes but did not accept them. That is why I insist on passengers boarding with new notes. I also heard that banks have equally stopped accepting the old notes, but I do not know how true that is. There is so much confusion about the whole thing, so the best thing to do is not to collect it at all,” he said.

Vivian Anibe, a student also narrated her old-naira ordeal.

“This whole situation is so problematic. I came out to buy bread but could not because many people are no longer collecting the old notes. On my way home, I decided to try one more place, and they were still collecting old notes; unfortunately, they did not have bread. I had to buy what I did not budget for, but I am happy I have spent the money,” she said.