The governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has asked traders in the state to stop rejecting the old naira notes from customers, saying the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, would review the new cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, if elected president.
Mr El-Rufai gave the assurance during an interactive meeting with leaders of the traders’ union in the state.
The governor, who has been very critical of the policy, alleged that it was intended to kill businesses in the country.
“We have 18 days until the presidential election, right? I want to authoritatively tell you that if Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is declared the winner, the first major announcement you will hear from him is the review of this policy.
“I Nasiru El-Rufai, Uba Sani and Asiwaju promise you that this policy will be reviewed and people will be given enough time to swap their money. This message is directly from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,” the governor said.
Mr El-Rufai urged the citizens to remain calm and stop rushing to the bank to swap their old notes, assuring that even after four years, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Uba Sani, will replace the money for them.
He maintained that by the provisions of the laws, the CBN can’t outlaw the old naira notes.
“Stop insisting that you must be given the new notes because it would affect your businesses. And that’s what they want.
“Tell everybody in Kaduna State that they should go ahead and do their transactions with their old notes, and every trader should accept the old currency.
“Please help us spread the message, continue to transact with the old notes, and don’t take your money to the bank. I can assure you that nobody will lose his money.
“You elected us to defend your interests, and we will continue to do that till our last breath,” he said.
The governor also appealed to residents not to engage in protest as witnessed in some parts of the country.
“Please don’t protest or engage in any act that will lead to breakdown of law and order because that is what they want.
