Ekiti State government has threatened to arrest traders, artisans, petrol station attendants, and others still rejecting the old naira notes.
The state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, asked residents to begin accepting the old notes alongside the new ones as legal tender and in line with the order of the Supreme Court, which said the old N500 and N1000 notes remained valid until December 31, 2023.
Oyebanji appealed to all businesses in the state to respect the rule of law and accept the old notes.
The governor said banks should make the naira notes available in all their branches and pay points, including to traders, business owners; service providers, okada riders; drivers, filling stations; gas plants; supermarkets, schools, hospitals, and POS operators to start accepting the old notes forthwith.
“To do otherwise would amount to defying the ruling of the highest court in the country and thwarting government efforts at reducing the hardship of the people,” he said.
