Speaking on Thursday at the palace of Elulu of Mopa, Oba
Julius Folorunsho, the Kogi State branch controller of the Apex bank, Ahmed
Sule Isah, said that people can visit any of the agencies to swap their old
notes with the newly redesigned ones adding that an individual would be
entitled to swap 10,000 at a time.
“People can also deposit their old notes into their accounts
while those without bank account would be encouraged to open one at the point
of the licensed Agents.”
According to him, “the aim was also to encourage cashless
policy as people would also be encouraged to key into the e-payment system of
the Apex bank.”
Chief Clarence Olafemi, the Ex-Governor of the state, who
responded on behalf of the Elulu, however, pleaded with the CBN to consider an
extension to the January 31st deadline, particularly for the rural dwellers.
“Our economy in this part of the state has already
collapsed, people are no longer opening their shops, and those who manage to
open are exploiting the masses, I am pleading with you to prevail on the
management to consider the rural dwellers before setting the deadline since the
redesigned policy is not aimed at punishing the people,” he said.
Olafemi who was once Speaker of the state House of Assembly
said, “I know a bit about the business of lawmaking, you have to consider
consequences before making laws and not the other way round.”
He also called for improvement in access to effective
communication in rural areas which he said was also one of the reasons why the
notes swapping must be extended.