The Peoples Democratic Party's presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar has requested a brief extension to the January 31 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria for commercial banks in Nigeria to exchange old naira notes for new ones.
According to Atiku, the misery this action caused was not intended for the effort.
The former vice president uploaded a video to his verified social media accounts with the caption "My perspective on the CBN January 31 deadline on the new Naria notes" to express his views on Nigerians' struggles to meet the deadline.
Atiku has emphasised that the deadline is incorrect and needs to be somewhat modified, even though he agrees that the policy of currency conversion is a practice that is generally accepted.
The PDP candidate for president has offered his opinion on the general reception of the CBN's proposal to redesign naira banknotes.
“This exercise is a worldwide practice, and nothing new with it primarily as the January 31 deadline draws closer.
“A great number of Nigerians, out of good conscience, have expressed apprehension about how the policy and the deadline will make life difficult for them.
“I’m also aware of the challenges farmers and artisans in remote areas go through in moving cash to the commercial banks for exchange.
Atiku continued by saying he feels obligated to join the chorus of Nigerians calling for a temporary extension of the naira notes swap.
“The deadline is going to cause heavy discomfort for Nigerians. It will be magnanimous for the Federal Government and the regulatory body to ease the burden of the people while we can continue to sensitise the public on the imperative of mobile banking policy.
“It is important for the CBN to consider an extension for the public to swap their old notes, thereby reducing the financial consequences on these vulnerable citizens; I believe that such painful experience is not the intention behind the initiative, he added.