In Anambra, businesses, service providers accept old N1000, N500 notes

…Complain of variety of affected notes

BANKS, petrol filling stations, artisans, petty traders and commercial bus drivers in Awka, Onitsha and their environs have started accepting old N1000, N500 notes from their customers and clients.

  A survey of markets and public spaces show only a few still reject the old notes as legal tender.

Checks on filling stations, keke ridders and petty traders in Awka and Onitsha also showed they have started accepting the old notes from commuters who were seen paying for their transportation cost with the old notes.

  According to them, they were convinced to accept the affected notes after President Muhammadu Buhari and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, gave their nod to the recent Supreme Court ruling that the old naira notes remain in circulation until December 31.

  Commenting on the development after withdrawing old N500 notes from his bank account, Mr. Stephen Obiora said “the people’s plight has not been reduced because it still take so much difficulty to be paid cash in banks while they are totally unavailable at POS operators’ shops.”

  Also speaking, an Awka-Ekwulobia commercial bus driver, Mr. Chidiebere Omeje said he “started collecting the old N1000, N500 notes from his passengers after filling stations began to accept it from me.”

  On her part, a petty trader, Mrs. Ebere Okafor said she has been “accepting the previously banned notes from customers but people still complain that the old notes are nowhere to be found and this forces us to resort to cashless payments which itself has its own trouble.”