Old Naira Notes: CDR Omodara Joins Other Kogi Gov't Officials on Sensitisation Tour »

By Opeyemi Ologun

Following the Supreme Court ruling on the 500 and 1000 Naira banknotes to remain legal tenders until December 31, the state security adviser to the Kogi State Government, Commander Jerry Omodara, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo and Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukkadam Idris Asiru and other government officials and stakeholders in the financial sector visited strategic locations like, markets, fuel stations, and streets of the Lokoja metropolis to sensitise the public on the need to partner with the state government on easing the financial constraints in the state by accepting the old Naira notes.

The state security adviser also advised petrol stations in the state to sell products at controlled prices. “Petrol are sold as high as 290 Naira or above in most petrol stations. Only two stations are selling at 220 Naira. Government will soon take necessary actions through various security agencies in the state and regulatory body”, Omodara said. He further emphasised that the state government is committed to ensuring compliance at all levels.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo in his address, said that they have met with financial institutions who have agreed to collect deposits of the old notes. Therefore, he urged all Okada riders, Keke riders and traders to accept the old naira notes.

Mr Kingsley said: “The State Government is grateful to the banks for their cooperation and commitment to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It is criminal to reject old naira notes after the judgement.”

In a separate remark, Mukkadam Asiwaju Idris Asiru assured the people of Lokoja that banks are receiving the old notes. He further urged the people to take advantage of the cooperation of the banks. “I have gotten the commitment of the banks to load their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) with old and new naira notes to ease the cash scarcity in the state”, Asiru said.

A representative from one of the leading banks in Lokoja assured the populace of their readiness to start receiving the old naira notes. “We received the directive on Monday morning to accept the old naira notes”, the bank representative said. He further urged customers to freely accept old naira notes.

The first phase of the sensitisation tour made stops at fuel stations and major markets in Lokoja with the assurance of continued awareness on radio and other communication channels.