CBN to Nigerians: Deposit old Naira notes before end of new deadline

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Nigerians have been urged to deposit their monies especially the old Naira notes in various commercial banks within before expiration of the 10 days extension. The Director Internal Audit Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN.Mrs Lydia I.Alfa made the plea yesterday while sensitizing traders on the redesigned Naira notes at Yola-Motor park in Yola South local government area of Adamawa state.

While thanking President Buhari and the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emiefele for listening to the people’s outcry and extend the deadline, Mrs Alfa said people should make conscious effort and get their monies deposited in various accounts and not to wait until last hour before rushing to the banks.

“Take advantage of the ten days extension to deposit the old two hundred, five and one thousand naira in your accounts before they cease to be legal tender on the deadline as approved by the CBN”, Mrs Alfa advised.

She explained that those without Bank account can approach CBN super agents for money swap or POS operators and account opening and deposit their money.

She reiterated that CBN will penalized any bank whose ATM machines dispense old redesign currency notes, calling on people to report such Bank to CBN for immediate action.

2013: INEC to mobilise 100,000 vehicles, 4,000 boats for polls, reveals Yakubu

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has revealed that it is mobilising about 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials to 176,846 polling units spread across 8,809 Registration Areas (or electoral Wards) in 774 Local Government Areas nationwide.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the revelation when he met with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, on Tuesday ahead of the forthcoming general election and the negative impact the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country is likely to have on the commission’s arrangements.

The INEC Chairman told the NNPCL management, led by its Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, at the NNPC towers, Abuja, that the various arrangements of the electoral body and its objectives cannot be fully accomplished without the guaranteed supply of petroleum products to facilitate the movement of vehicles and boats.

He thus pleaded for the use of the NNPC land and floating mega stations nationwide to service INEC’s election duty vehicles and boats, saying, “We will bear the cost of the products. By doing so, there will be guaranteed supply for elections”.

Prof Yakubu equally made case for a special arrangement with other marketers in locations where the NNPC may not have dedicated stations in addition to the consideration of other options to support “our seamless operations on Election Day”.

The INEC Chairman said, “As you are aware, Nigerians will go to the polls in a little over three weeks in what will be our 7th consecutive General Election since the restoration of democracy in 1999. “The election will hold in two phases. The national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) will hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 to be followed two weeks later by State elections (Governorship and States Houses of Assembly) on Saturday 11th March 2023.

“Nigerian election is huge and complex. Election is the biggest logistical operation that Nigeria undertakes every four years.

“93,469,008 registered voters are expected to elect a President, 28 State Governors and 1,462 legislators (109 Senators, 360 members of House of Representatives and 993 members of State Houses of Assembly).

“The Commission is mobilising about 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials to 176,846 polling units spread across 8,809 Registration Areas (or electoral Wards) in 774 Local Government Areas nationwide.

“Earlier this morning (yesterday’s), we had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). We are working with them as well as the Marine Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to mobilise the vehicles and boats needed for the massive land and riverine movement of men and materials for the election.

“We are determined to overcome the perennial challenge of late commencement of polls on grounds of logistics.

“However, this objective cannot be fully accomplished without the guaranteed supply of petroleum products to facilitate the movement of vehicles and boats.

“Hence, in our effort to mobilise every national institution to give Nigerians a pleasant experience on Election Day, the Commission believes that the NNPC, as our national oil company, is one of the critical institutions that can facilitate the attainment of our objective.

“We are aware of the efforts of the NNPC to ease the current situation in earnest. At the same time, we would like to appeal to you to consider the following proposals:

*The use of the NNPC land and floating mega stations nationwide to service our election duty vehicles and boats. We will bear the cost of the products. By doing so, there will be guaranteed supply for elections;

*A special arrangement with other marketers in locations where the NNPC may not have dedicated stations; and

*Consider other options to support our seamless operations on Election Day.