The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the deadline for the exchange of old naira notes by 10 days.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele said that the new deadline is February 10, 2023.
Emefiele had previously stated that the apex bank would not extend the deadline.
However, the CBN governor explained today that as a result of measures put in place to ease the scarcity, President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for the extension of deadline.
He said: “Based on the foregoing, we have sought and obtained Mr President’s approval for the following: a 10-day extension of the deadline from January 31, 2023, to February 10, 2023; to allow for collection of more old notes legitimately held by Nigerians and achieve more success in cash swap in our rural communities after which all old notes outside the CBN loses their Legal Tender Status.
“Our CBN staff currently on mass mobilization and monitoring together with officials of the EFCC and ICPC will work together to achieve these objectives.
“A 7-day grace period, beginning on February 10 to February 17, 2023, in compliance with Sections 20(3) and 22 of the CBN Act, allowing Nigerians to deposit their old notes at the CBN after the February deadline when the old currency would have lost its Legal Tender status”.
