The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the disbursement of old N500 and N1,000 notes.
It should be recalled that the Supreme Court on Friday, 3 March 2023 ordered the banks to roll out the banknotes on Monday, 6 March 2023 stating that the old Naira notes remain legal till December 31, 2023, voiding the Naira redesign policy of the central bank.
The judgement was delivered after 16 states in Nigeria sued the Federal Government over the Naira redesign policy, stating that it has negatively affected trading in their states.
According to the state governments, it was gathered that the livelihood of their citizens is at risk, as they are unable to access funds deposited in banks due to a lack of new Naira notes.
After the judgement of the Supreme Court, Nigeria’s financial regulator and the Federal Government has not publicly addressed the judgement as they did with two previous ruling of the apex court.
However, the CBN seem to have silently adhered to the Supreme Court judgement, as branches of Sterling Bank and Zenith Bank, amongst others, have began to disburse the old Naira notes.
However, the disbursement has not convinced traders of the legality of the old Naira notes. During a market survey, Prime Business Africa gathered that the traders are awaiting public confirmation from the Federal Government.
The traders said President Muhammadu Buhari hasn’t publicly addressed the judgement, so they are not ready to risk accepting the Naira notes.
Also, fuel stations, including that operated by government-controlled firm, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, rejected the old notes.
Speaking on the Supreme Court ruling, CBN spokesperson, Isa Abdulmumin, said: “Yes, the CBN has not issued an official statement on the issue. Anyone banks give to you, you can collect.
“We just want to make life easy for Nigerians. Banks are paying old notes as well as new notes. They are all legal tender.”
Abdulmumin urged traders to accept the old Naira notes, as its now legal tender.
 has approved the disbursement of old N500 and N1,000 notes.){kind=link}