The Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele has disclosed that the newly redesigned Naira notes will be unveiled today, Wednesday, 23rd November, 2022.
The newly redesigned notes include the N100, N200, N500, and the N1000 notes.
The governor said this yesterday while addressing a group of journalists at the end of the two-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank.
He also noted that the central bank is not going back on the date stipulated for Nigerians to deposit the old naira notes to their various commercial banks.
- Advertisement -
The apex bank had marked January 31, 2023, as the deadline for Nigerians to deposit all the old currency notes in their possession after which the old Naira notes ceases to be a legal tender.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, the apex bank governor said the unveiling of the newly designed notes had been moved closer than the December 15, 2022, date that was previously announced.
ALSO READ:
- 5 worrisome reasons why the CBN wants to redesign the naira notes
- CBN launches countdown clock against old Naira notes
The President, Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to unveil the new currency notes at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, today.
- Advertisement -
The governor expressed appreciation to the president for backing his plan to redesign the Naira notes despite harsh criticism from several quarters.
Earlier, there have been calls from various quarters for the Central Bank to extend the deadline for the remittance of the old currency notes.
One of such calls came from the Nigerian Senate who argued that the redesign was untimely, considering there is a general election coming barely 100 days ahead.
The Senate also argued that the time allotted for the remittance of the old currency was not enough for people living in rural areas to get to the urban areas where commercial banks area available.
- Advertisement -
Another group who raised concerns was the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders who argued that the time allotted for the remittance of the old Naira notes was not enough for them. They maintained that their lives and businesses are conducted in the forests and bushes, hence, it would be difficult for them to get to the urban areas where commercial banks are located.
However, the Central Bank governor insisted the central bank would not shift the deadline, adding that the 100 days provided for people to deposit existing banknotes in commercial banks was adequate.