As the naira scarcity bites harder in Nigeria, some state governors have taken measures to make life easier to their citizens. The governors had earlier, arising from a meeting of the governors’ forum at the weekend, said they were determined to employ all legitimate channels to ease the situation for citizens.
On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari extended the validity of the old N200 notes by 60 days, to April 10. The president announced this in a national broadcast Thursday morning.
Buhari reiterated the position of the CBN that the old N500 and N1000 notes are no longer legal tender and advised Nigerians to swap the affected currencies at CBN and other designated places.
This is despite a subsisting order of the Supreme Court restraining the CBN and Federal Government from phasing out the old notes by February 10.
Buhari said, “I am not unaware of the obstacles placed on the path of innocent Nigerians by unscrupulous officials in the banking industry, entrusted with the process of implementation of the new monetary policy.
“I am deeply pained and sincerely sympathise with you all, over these unintended outcomes.”
About 10 governors have dragged the federal government to the Supreme Court over the phasing out of the old banknotes, saying the decision has plunged their citizens into some unimaginable difficulties.
Abiodun shares free food in Ogun
Governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun, promised that the state government would distribute free food items as a measure to ease the effects of the cash scarcity and petrol shortage. The governor had promised that a total of 400,000 food items would be distributed to “vulnerable residents” in the state.
Sanwo-Olu slashes transport fare by 50% in Lagos
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state announced a 50 percent reduction in the prices of all state-owned transport services in the state. The governor made the statement as a gesture to ease the biting scarcity of cash and petrol, which have met untold hardship on residents of the state. The transport services include bus rapid transit (BRT), Lagos ride taxis, ferries, and other transportation services in the state.
Obaseki deploys free buses in Edo
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state directed all Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) buses from Thursday to provide free services to passengers to cushion the effect of the cash crunch currently being hard on citizens. The governor’s directive was signed by the Special Adviser on Media Projects to the Governor, Mr Crusoe Osagie and made available to newsmen in Benin.
The directive, according to the governor, is applicable to all routes and is effective till Monday, Feb. 20, after which further announcement would be made on the matter.
Zulum offers free drugs in Borno
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno in Maiduguri directed the release of drugs worth N300 million and other medical supplies to government hospitals for free distribution to patients, most of whom were facing difficulties in making payments due to scarcity of new and old naira notes. The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof. Mohammed Arab, made this known while unveiling the drugs in Maiduguri. Arab said that the supplies included drugs for prevalent illnesses, maternal delivery kits and other medical essentials.
AbdulRazaq approves palliatives in Kwara
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved palliatives for various vulnerable groups in the state to cushion the effects of the ongoing fuel scarcity and the currency change in the country.
AbdulRazaq also directed the 50 percent cut from the original cost of fare in the state transport buses for students.
Makinde approves bus ride in Oyo
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has deployed Omituntun buses free to ease the movement of residents of the state following the twin crisis of new naira notes and fuel scarcity. This is contained in a statement by Taiwo Adisa, the chief press secretary to the governor, on Saturday in Ibadan, the state capital.
