Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank (CBN), said banks across the country would be open to retrieving the old naira noted even after the new deadline.
The apex bank’s governor made this declaration on Tuesday, January 31, while appearing before the House of Reps committee on the redesigned naira notes.
CBN on Sunday, January 29, announced the extension of the deadline for the depot of the old notes from January 31 to February 10.
The new deadline became significant amid hardship faced by Nigerians who daily queue at commercial banks to depot and exchange their money for new notes.
Ikeja Birds notes that since the first deadline was announced, economic activities across the country have been badly affected as petty traders, Okada riders refused the old notes amid fear.
Speaking before the lawmakers of the lower chamber, Emefiele assured that banks will accept the old notes after the deadline.
The redesigned naira notes: N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations were unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2022.
Top politicians, including the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have frowned at the decision, with the former Lagos governor saying the development was targeted at him.
