Despite the January 31st deadline, residents in Sokoto State are reportedly refusing to collect old naira notes from customers.
According to Punch, most businesses in the state began rejecting old naira notes on Monday.
It was also learned that motorcycle operators, or ‘okada,‘ rejected the same notes from their customers.
According to a resident, Atiku Abdulrafiu, the Central Bank of Nigeria must find a way to extend the deadline for the old naira notes in circulation.
He explained that most banks in the state still paid customers in old naira notes as of today.
I was in the bank today to withdraw, we withdrew N580,000 and do you know what? All the money given to us were old notes.
We requested new notes but to our surprise, they said no new note is available.
Now, how can you imagine that the same money is being rejected by traders and business people in the same state.
Also speaking, Alhaji Isa Saa, a trader in Sokoto Old Market, said he had decided not to open his shop until the end of the month out of fear of receiving old notes.
He said;
I have told my customers not to bother to come to my shop till next month as I will not open for business.
I don’t want to collect money that will expire in my house.
He however appealed to the Federal Government to look into the plight of Nigerians and extend the time frame for the old naira notes in circulation.