By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Residents of Kaduna State have been assured that their old Naira notes would be collated and deposited at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Kaduna branch after the elections.
Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday, expressed this in a statewide broadcast to citizens.
He, assured residents that the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with elected legislators, traditional institution, elected local government councils, markets, and traders associations will help you collect, record, document, collate and deliver all your old notes to the Kaduna branch of the Central Bank on their behalf into the new ones immediately after the elections.
He therefore, appealed to all residents of Kaduna State to continue to use the old and new notes side by side without any fear.
He said, Kaduna State Government and its agencies shall seal any facility that refuses to accept the old notes as legal tender and prosecute the owners, hence if need be, “we shall take further consequential actions according to the law.”
The governor during the state broadcast, said that Kaduna State Government is making the appeal, and taking all these measures to shield its people from the terrible consequences of the currency redesign policy.
el-Rufai said the state seeks to protect its people’s hard-earned money, their ability to engage in trade and exchange and buy what they need.
“We also seek to protect your civic rights, liberties and freedoms under a democratic dispensation,” he added.
He therefore, called on the people of Kaduna State to remain peaceful and vigilant in the face of brazen attempts to engineer crisis in order to get a pretext for unconstitutional or undemocratic actions.
The governor urged all not to fall for these antics of the enemies of Nigeria.
“Please be patient and continue to exercise resilience in the face of open provocation and deliberate disinformation,” he appealed.
He encouraged citizens to be ready with their permanent voters cards (PVCs) to vote in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“We are doing all we can to ensure that it is peaceful, orderly and hitch-free.
“I appeal to you to understand the shenanigans of these unpatriotic elements in Abuja and ensure you vote massively for the intended victims of these last-minute policies of needless hardship and incitement of the citizens – our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates in all the elections.
“However, let us stay calm and peaceful, and support the lawful means being utilised to solve our problems,” he said.
