BY: News Peddlers
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| CBN Branch Lokoja |
Many Lokoja residents have expressed concern and anxiety about the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) inability to provide necessary instruments for effective swapping of old naira notes.
On Wednesday, some Lokoja residents questioned why the apex bank would make the process so difficult.
Some of them believe that the bank that enacted the policy should not be making excuses, but rather should have made all necessary arrangements for unhindered currency swap operations.
Joe Agada, a businessman from Olawo town in Kogi's Ofu Local Government Area, said he had been coming to the CBN office on Hassan Katsina Road in Lokoja for the past two days with no success.
"I was here yesterday, but I was asked to return today for a form that I need to fill out before the swapping of my old notes can take place.
"Again, when I arrived, I was told that the forms were not ready. They asked me to write down my name and phone number and wait to be called.
"This is stressful because we are afraid they may not help us as promised looking at the February 17 deadline.
"We are innocent villagers who were unable to travel to Lokoja to exchange the old notes," he explained.
Sidi Ibrahim, a farmer from Musu Village in Kogi's Bassa Local Government Area, begged the CBN to save his family and others from hunger and suffering.
"You might not believe it, but we brought everything we had along with N2,000 and N1,500 that I gathered from our old men and women to exchange with CBN."
"The CBN form that I could fill to effect the swap is not good news to hear because going back before returning here will be stressful and time consuming," he explained.
Mr Ibrahim urged the CBN management to expedite the process of easing the public's suffering caused by currency swapping.
Ahmed Sule, the Kogi CBN Branch Controller, expressed regret over the lack of forms for easy swapping of old naira notes.
"We are aware of the anxiety and apprehension among the residents but honestly we don't have the forms to give them.
"Our link, which is supposed to allow us to download the forms, is not opening for us; that is why I instructed that names and phone numbers be taken so that we can call them back once the forms are ready," he explained.
He stated that once the forms are available, residents will be expected to fill them based on the amount of money indicated for swapping.
(NAN)