•  Old notes still legal tender in Jigawa – Govt overrules Buhari

Fighting erupted in some areas on the popular Lagos-Ikorodu expressway in Lagos State over the scarcity of the new naira notes and the hardship the policy has thrown Nigerians.

On Friday morning, The PUNCH gathered that suspected louts in Mile 12, Ketu and Ojota areas on the expressway, took to the road attacking commuters and creating chaos.

A driver, attached to one of the cab-hailing firms operating in the state who does not want his name in print over fears of harassment, said he had to turn into one of the streets due to the chaos.

Tweeps, who shared details of the ongoing fighting in the area, alleged they could hear sounds of gunshots.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, has confirmed the unrest happening in the Mile 12 area of Lagos State.

He made this known via his Twitter handle on Friday.

Responding to a tweet asking the PPRO to confirm the rumour, Hundeyin replied, “ It is true. Our men are there. Reinforcement units have been deployed. Stay safe out there as we closely monitor and manage the situation.”

Meanwhile, there is confusion in Jigawa State as the State Government insisted that the old naira notes remain legal tender in the state pending the judgment of the Supreme Court.

The state Commissioner for Information, Youths Sports and Culture, Ibrahim Mamsa, stated this in a statement issued late Thursday.

This is coming despite the position of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), that only the N200 old note remains legal tender till April 10, while the N500 and N1000 notes cease to be legal tender.

“The Jigawa State Government wishes to inform members of the Public that, it has come to its notice some individuals and corporate bodies are rejecting the now-old N200, N500 and N1000 notes. The Jigawa State Government is concerned about the conduct of such individuals and corporate bodies.

“As a law-abiding government, there are suits by various state governments of which Jigawa State is among before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The court has issued an order restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria, either by itself or acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria and/or commercial banks, ministries, parastatals, organisations or through any person or persons (natural and artificial) howsoever, from suspending or determining or ending on February 10, 2023 the time frame within which the now older versions of the 200, 500 and 1000 denominations of the naira may no longer be legal tender pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“Jigawa State Government respects the rights of its people and those rejecting the now-old currencies are enjoined to desist from disobeying the law and causing hardship to the people of Jigawa State. Jigawa State Government will not hesitate to use section 287(1) of the Constitution (as amended) and other extant laws to enforce the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the statement.

The state government urged residents to report any trader or business organisation that refuses to accept the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes as legal tender to the nearest appropriate authorities in the state.

The PUNCH reports that in the same vein, the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, in a statewide broadcast late Thursday also kicked against Buhari’s order, alleging that the naira redesign was part of plots to set up an interim government in Nigeria.

El-Rufai maintained that old notes are still legal tender in the state, and he urged residents to continue to transact with them.

Credit: Punch