The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar says the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, must urgently initiate measures to get the new naira notes in circulation to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians especially those in rural communities across the country require cash for their daily transactions.
In a statement signed by the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organization, the former vice president commended the CBN for granting an extension that would enable Ordinary Nigerians to exchange their old notes with the new ones but however warned that further extension could destroy the purpose of introducing the currency redesigning policy.
Atiku proposed the printing of more new notes to address the current scarcity among ordinary Nigerians, the statement read in part:
“If the CBN thinks its officials and banks must operate at the weekend in other to address the need of the ordinary people and rural dwellers, it may have to consider this option, after all the amount these people require is not huge.
The essential element here is ensuring that the new currency goes around and is well distributed to the points where people can easily access them. Every good policy must be people-centered and must not bring an avoidable difficulty to the people.”
The PDP presidential candidate said that the cashless policy will reduce illicit financial flows, defeat terrorism funding, discourage the circulation of drug money, and save the country’s democracy by tackling vote buying
He also advised the CBN to be wary of anti-democratic elements ganging up against the CBN and at the same time striving to frustrate the policy, adding that they are also lobbying for another postponement of the deadline for the change of currency which the CBN must ignore and should not succumb to pressure.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
