Guests on Journalists Hangout programme on TVC News have urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to give a directive to all commercial banks in the Country to stop the issuance of the old Naira Notes either through their Automated Teller Machines or over the counter.
Dare Odufowokan, an Editor with TheNation newspapers said the stress that people have had to go through all in the name of getting the new notes is unimaginable.
He added that he has also personally tried to withdraw money from the Automated Teller Machines and the machines still dispensed the old notes but not just an old note but very old notes.
He wondered how people are supposed to get the new notes when the banks all have their Automated Teller Machines still dispensing the old notes.
He described the Central Bank of Nigeria as not being serious enough with the Policy with a policy like that which should have started with the mopping up of the old notes in circulation to be followed by the mass distribution of the new notes.
He said the Central Bank of Nigeria has dis[played gross lack of seriousness in addressing the issues around the policy.
He said the policy is still as it is today is not feasible while banks Automated Teller Machines are still dispensing the old notes.
For his part, Gani Kayode-Balogun, described as unfortunate that 2 weeks to the expiration of the deadline the new notes are still not in circulation.
He said the old notes as far as he can see may still be in circulation till the end of the year.
He added that the events that have followed the announcement of the Policy have shown that the decision was taken as knee jerk reaction and that the Central Bank of Nigeria is not ready.
They both asked for the whereabouts of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
Gani Kayode Balogun said he is certain that most traders across major markets in Nigeria will still have Millions of Naira in their custody by the beginning of February.
They decried the abysmal level of awareness by the Central Bank of Nigeria for Nigerians to understand and be able to identify the new notes.
