Excitedly, the media have reported the family of a young woman in Gbako LGA of Niger State who asked the family of her suitor to take back the old N1,000 and N500 notes they presented as bride price.
Though the wedding was not postponed, the girl’s guardians were said to have noted that with the CBN deadline of January 31, they were not ready to buy some items needed for the ceremony and did not have a bank account to deposit the money, thus their demand for the new notes.
According to unnamed family member of the male suitor: “We took money to the family of the girl we want to marry. They called me on Sunday to come and take the old currency notes back pending when we have the new naira notes. They said they don’t have anywhere to change the old notes. So, I want to take it to the bank pending when we get the new notes.”
He further said that many people were scared of collecting the old notes for fear that they would not be able to spend them before the January 31, deadline.
Reports have it that even rural traders in some parts of the country have started rejecting the old notes or shutting their businesses as commercial banks have continued to give out old notes.
Marketers told the media that many farmers had stopped bringing out their farm produce to the market on for fear that they would be given old naira notes.
Mohammed Sani, the chairman, Amana Farmers and Grain Suppliers Association, Wushishi Local Government Chapter, said “Right now rural farmers have stopped bringing out their farm produce to the market since last week because they are afraid that they would be given old naira notes and they don’t have bank accounts.”
He said most rural dwellers have postponed their wedding and child naming ceremonies because it is when they sell their farm produce that they get cash to buy things for such ceremonies.
