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Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said that the federal government will not rescind the deadline for the expiration of old notes.
Emefiele, addressing pressmen on Saturday, stated that reports had shown that the public wanted an extension of the January 31 deadline but the apex bank would not go back on its decision.
“Reports suggest that many people want the deadline to be shifted for reasons ranging from their inability to gain access to the new notes or deposit their old currencies. I must say that unfortunately, I don’t have good news for those who feel we should shift the deadline,” he said.
According to the CBN governor, the president had said 100 days was adequate for the deposition of the old currencies and the bank had taken every step necessary to ensure the deadline was met.
“Just as the president had said on more than two occasions and even to people privately, 90 days, in fact, 100 days, is enough for anybody who has money or the old currencies to deposit in banks,” said Emefiele.
“And we took every measure to ensure that all the banks were open or remain still open to receive all old currencies. 100 days is more than adequate.
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“We called on the banks; we said ‘not only are we requesting you to extend your banking hours so you can receive old currencies, but we are also asking you to keep your doors open on Saturdays’.
“We do not see any reason to begin to talk about a shift because people could not deposit their old monies into their banks.”
