By Adadainfo
The newly redesigned naira notes were today unviled in Abuja, Adadareporters.com reports.
The launch took place during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Meanwhile, some residents of Enugu metropolis claim that the proposed redesigning of naira notes is targeted at stifling the opposition political parties of funds ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria had claimed the redesigning would curb corruption and also crash the prices of dollars in the market.
Barr Nwabueze Ugwu, a constitutional lawyer, said, “There is no doubt that naira redesigning will affect the elections. Pundits say it is to stifle the opposition of funds, while government candidates will have easy access to the new notes. Time was when people don’t doubt whatever the government says. Nigerians have lost faith in Nigeria. Nigeria has lost credibility.”
The head of the department of mass communication, Coal City University, Enugu, Prof Nnamdi Okenwa, said during a programme monitored in Enugu that, “People have lost trust in government. This is not a policy designed to lift us out of poverty that is currently ravaging us. It is to plunge us into deeper hardship. The government is not sure of what will come out of the 2023 elections. It is for them to superintend the outcome of the 2023 general elections that informed the redesigning.”
In view of Timothy Ekwueme, a commentator, “It is suspicious because the election is around the corner. What do they want us to do? We have census next year and elections also. The government has to be more sincere. The poverty ratio is high. There is insecurity.”
A pastor, Rev Osmond Eke, advised people who have money to deposit them in banks. In his words, “It is an executive order. For those who have funds, they should deposit their money in banks to avoid negative consequences. But the period for deposits should be also extended so that as new notes are coming, old ones are being deposited. But we must embrace production. I see funds for this project as a waste.”
