By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
Residents of Bauchi State have expressed divergent views on the extension of the deadline for the validity of old Naira notes in business transactions nationwide.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, on Sunday, announced the extension of the deadline for the notes in the denominations of N200, N500, and N1,000 contrary to the January 31st deadline earlier announced.
The directive of CBN to banks to open for business on Saturday and Sunday afforded more people the opportunity to deposit old notes in banks across the country.
In the State capital, many people were at banks either to withdraw money through the ATM or deposit old notes to avoid liquidation.
However, when the announcement of the extension of the deadline for the use of the old notes was announced, it came as a respite to those still having them at hand while those that have deposited theirs and could not access new notes regretted their action.
A customer of Keystone Bank in Bauchi, Hassan Aliyu, described the extension as an after thought and unnecessary.
According to him, Nigerians have been subjected to unnecessary hardship over the matter, adding that the announcement of the extension of the date ought to have come before Sunday.
Mrs. Abigail Moses who hailed the extension, said it would reduce tension and afford the people the opportunity to deposit their old notes and have new ones to transact business.
A resident, Musa Jahun, commended the federal government for shifting the deadline and urged the apex Bank to sanction banks or agents found violating any rule or directive.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent observed that some bank customers who were in the queue when the extension was announced abandoned their eagerness to deposit the old notes and went home with them. NNL.
