Following the shift in deadline for the total withdrawal of 200, 500 and 1000 old naira notes, the national orientation agency, NOA is collaborating with the national Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW to sensitize the people on the policy.
The Director General of the NOA, Dr Garba Abari disclosed this at sensitisation program in Abuja.
He said the naira redesign policy may come with pains but there are economic benefits that will be accrued from it once it is implemented fully.
He lamented that a huge chunk of money is in the possession of individuals and organisations instead of being in the banks.
He said “The government in its wisdom has decided to redesign our national currency. The NOA is a custodian of national symbols; the naira is a national symbol. We have not had the naira redesigned for a very long time, this time around, the government in its wisdom decided to redesign the naira having taken all the technical inputs that are constitutional.
“There is a huge chunk of money outside the banking system and this is not healthy for the economy, as a result of this, so much cash out of the banking system in the hands of individuals and corporate bodies, moments have arisen where such has constituted a serious security threat to our country.
“Economic policies usually come with pains, but when compared to the benefits that we will accrue thereafter are worthy pains.
Since the CBN introduced the new naira notes policy in November 2022 in a bid to move cash back into the bank system most Nigerians are finding it difficult to access new notes.
Citizens found exchanging their old notes for new ones very tedious coupled with the scarcity in circulation of new notes as the first deadline of 31st January 2023 drew close, CBN had to extend the deadline to 10th February 2023 so citizens can meet up with it.
It is why the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with the CBN, NURTW have decided to join hands together to embark on enlightenment campaign by endorsing super agents who will lead the exercise across the country.
The Director General NOA Garba Abari and the national president NURTW Tajudeen Baruwa both agreed that citizens should abide by the CBN’s directive and deposit their money in banks on time before the new deadline of 10th February 2023 .
They also called on Nigerians in fear of fake notes to look out for specific security features.
Both parties encouraged citizens to embrace the new policy as this will help improve the nation’s economy.
