* Says ransom-taking, kidnapping slow after naira redesign
The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has claimed that through to it’s intended serious benefits, the new naira has helped to reduce the spare of incessant kidnapping for ransom in the country.
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The CBN Governor disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja.
Insisting that the deadline for the withdrawal of the old notes remains end of the month, Emefiele said regardless of the pressure, no extension would be granted.
The Senate had asked the CBN to extend its deadline for the phasing out of the old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes from January 31st to June 30th, 2023.
Emefiele said the 100 days deadline is enough for people to deposit their old naira notes into the banking system.
“I do not have good news for those who want the date to be changed,” Emefiele said. He disclosed that N1.5 trillion of the old banknotes have been returned, hoping that it will get to N3 trillion this week.
“By last week we have seen about between N1.3 to N1.5 trillion in, we are hoping that as we get into this week, we will move closer to N3 trillion. If we get N3 trillion in and those who keep money decide to keep it at home, I am not going to force them to bring it out,” he said
