The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline for the validity of old Naira notes.
The CBN, despite appeals from several quarters, has insisted that it will not shift ground on the January 31 deadline.
The former Vice President posted a video on Saturday, titled: “My position on the CBN January 31st deadline on the new Naira notes” on his verified social media handles to express his view on the challenges faced by Nigerians in meeting with the deadline set by the apex bank.
Atiku said: “The ongoing policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria to redesign the naira notes has generated wild reactions across the country and beyond.
“This exercise is a worldwide practice and not anything new, especially as the January 31 deadline draws closer, a large number of Nigerians out of good conscience have expressed apprehension about how the policy and the deadline will make life more difficult for Nigerians.
“Many Nigerians, especially farmers, artisans and those in the rural areas do not have bank accounts, so the time frame for the change of old notes to the new one is not achievable.”
He appealed for the extension of the deadline to address the situation of hardship facing the people.
“On this note, I am compelled to align with the upsurge of demands for a slight extension of the monetary conversion policy.
“The January 31 deadline is certainly going to cause a heavy discomfort on our people and it will be magnanimous on the part of the government and the regulatory agency to ease the burden on the people for the public interest,” Atiku said.