There was a drama at the venue of a wedding in Gbako LGA of Niger State as the family of a bride has rejected old 1000 and 500 Naira notes given as bride dowry.
The family of the suitor took an undisclosed amount to the family of the woman as bride price and money for other stuff in preparation for the wedding.
The bride’s family said they do not have accounts with any Bank and for the fact that they were not going to make any further purchases, they would not receive the old notes mores that the CBN has set January 31 as deadline for the old notes.
They, however, went on with wedding.
“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,” said a member of the groom’s family.
He said many people had stopped receiving the old notes for fear of ot spending them before the January 31 deadline.
It was learnt that traders in rural areas in state no longer accept the old notes or shutting their businesses as commercial banks have continued to give out old notes, just as it wascdiscovered that most of the communities lack access to banks.
Residents of Zungeru, Wushishi LGA of the state, make do with just one commercial bank despite the population and huge business activities in the town, especially during Sunday and Wednesday market days.
It was also discovered that marketers had stopped bringing out their wars to Zungeru market on Wednesdays and Sundays for fear that they would be given old naira notes.
The chairman, Amana Farmers and Grain Suppliers Association, Wushishi Local Government Chapter, Mohammed Sani, said at the moment no farmer supplies produce to the market since last week because they don’t want to accept old naira notes as 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.