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We don’t have capacity to print new notes – Emefiele

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Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele

Amidst the cash crisis bedevilling the country and the expectations of Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari would resolve the matter in seven days as promised, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the apex bank does not have the capacity to print adequate new naira notes.

Emefiele made the disclosure on Friday when he briefed the emergency meeting of the National Council of State, sources who attended the meeting told PREMIUM TIMES.

On Friday, Mr Emefiele told the leaders that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (The Mint), suffers capacity constraints, resulting in the failure to print adequate new notes to replace the old N200, N500 and 1,000 notes.

“The Mint has run out of papers to print N500 and 1,000 notes. They have placed orders with a German firm and De La Rue of the UK (for papers) but they have been placed on a long waiting list, so their orders cannot be met now.

“The Mint had received CBN’s request to print 70million copies of the new notes, totalling N126billion to be pumped into circulation by today (yesterday), The Mint doesn’t have the capacity,” a source told PREMIUM TIMES.

Meanwhile, Mr Buhari was non-committal at the meeting and barely spoke, the source added. He left the meeting as the time for the Muslim’s Jummah prayer drew close and his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, took over.

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Osinbajo said the president would take a decision.

Meanwhile, seven days after President Muhammadu Buhari promised to address the cash crisis that hit the country following the naira redesign and old notes swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the new and old naira notes have remained elusive, Daily Trust Saturday reports.

Last December, the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN introduced the new notes amid efforts to fight corruption, terrorism, counterfeiting and related crimes, with a January 31, 2023 deadline.

However, Nigerians have had a hard time getting the new notes amid scarcity and rising tension across the country, forcing the apex bank to extend the deadline by 10 days, which was due yesterday, February 10.

President Buhari had on February 3 implored Nigerians to give him seven days to resolve the cash crunch that has become a problem across the country from the policy of the CBN.

The president made the call while speaking to the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) who paid him a visit to seek solutions to the cash crunch, which they said was threatening the good records of the administration in transforming the economy.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, noted that he had seen television reports on cash shortages and hardship to local businesses and ordinary people and gave assurances that the balance of seven of the 10-day extension would be used to crack down on whatever stood in the way of its successful implementation.

There has been a flurry of suits at the Supreme Court by some state governors, challenging the apex bank’s policy over the hardship the policy has brought on the people.

The apex court had issued an order asking the CBN and the federal government not to go ahead with the implementation of the policy pending the determination of substantive suits before it.

 No respite, 7 days after

But seven days after Buhari’s assurance, Nigerians have expressed disappointment over his inability to resolve the issue as long queues persist in banks across the country.

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A meat seller at Agege, Lagos, Shakiru Alabi, said he knew President Buhari was not going to solve the problem within seven days.

He said, “From his body language, Emefiele is working for him. I was not expecting him to do anything. He should come to Lagos and see how people are suffering to get their money. People will leave their work to queue at banks from 5am to collect N2,000,” he lamented, saying the situation has drastically affected their business.

For Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Yara, a resident of Kurna in the Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, the promise by the president failed due to improper coordination in his team.

Yara said he would not blame the president alone for the failure but his cabinet, who he said failed to understand and believe in the suffering Nigerians are facing as a result of the policy.

Another resident of Kano State, Abdullahi Usman, an engineer, said people had already given up and didn’t put much expectation on the promise by the president.

“I think the government lacks the sincerity of purpose. Instead of improving the economy, it has brought hardship,” he said.

Re-circulate old naira, Council of State tells CBN

The Council of State yesterday backed the new currency redesign policy but advised the CBN to ensure the availability of naira notes to douse tension and ameliorate the suffering of citizens across the country.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, governors Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, as well as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, briefed State House reporters on the key issues after the Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Malami, who gave a summary of the meeting said, “The two major resolutions that were driven, arriving from the deliberations of the Council, are that we are on course as far as elections are concerned and we are happy with the level of preparation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the institutions.

“Also, the naira redesign policy stands, but the Council agreed that there is the need for aggressive action on the part of the CBN as it relates to implementation, by ensuring adequate provision with regard to the supply of the naira to the system.”

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Also, Governor Ishaku said members of the Council of State advised President Buhari, who chaired the meeting, to ensure that the CBN makes provision for the availability of naira notes in the country to cater for the needs of the poor.

He said deliberations on the new currency redesign policy took more time because of hardship across the country.

Ishaku said members of the Council mostly expressed concern over the implementation of the policy after a briefing from the governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele.

He said the CBN governor was advised to make new naira notes available or re-circulate old ones to ease the suffering of Nigerians.

He, however, added that the president would take a final decision, having received advice from members of the Council of State.

 Kano, Ondo join gale of Supreme Court cases against policy

Meanwhile, the governments of Kano and Ondo states have filed separate suits before the Supreme Court against the federal government in respect of the policy.

In a suit number SC/CS/200/2023, the Kano State attorney-general, through his counsel, Sunusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is asking the apex court to declare that the president of Nigeria cannot unilaterally direct the CBN to recall the new N200, N500 and N500 old bank notes without recourse to the Federal Executive Council and the National Economic Council respectively.

The state government, among other things, prayed the court to issue a mandatory order reversing the federal government’s policy to recall the N200, N500 and N1,000 notes from circulation, saying it is affecting the economic well-being of over 20 million of Kano citizens.

The applicant is also seeking a mandatory order compelling the federal government to reverse the naira redesign policy for failing to comply with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The Ondo State Government also filed a suit against the federal government at the Supreme Court over the CBN’s directive on the limitation of cash withdrawal from banks.

In the suit filed by the state’s attorney-general, Charles Titiloye, the apex court was asked to stop the implementation of the policy.

INEC, IGP assure Council of readiness for elections

Speaking further, Ishaku said, “The INEC chairman briefed the Council of State on their preparedness for the forthcoming general elections. The Inspector-General of Police also told the Council that they were equally prepared for the elections.

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Also, asked if there would be any deadline for the president to proffer solutions to the problem of scarcity of new naira notes, Femi Adesina said, “The deadline is a judicial matter.”

Malami, however, gave assurance that President Buhari would be guided by the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. He added that though the matter is in court, both parties were still open to an amicable resolution.

Yesterday’s meeting was attended by former heads of state and presidents, including General Yakubu Gowon (retd), General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) and Goodluck Jonathan. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo joined online.

Others who joined virtually include the governor of Sokoto State and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal; governor of Kebbi State and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Abubakar Bagudu; the governor of Plateau State and chairman, Northern States Governors Forum, Simon Lalong, among others.

 CSOs speak

Speaking on the development, the executive director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said the organisation knew that the February 10 deadline would pass without any resolution to the cash crisis.

He said President Buhari and the CBN governor had never been prepared to solve the naira crisis.

“As a result, the president’s seven-day promise was just one of many broken promises that have become a feature of this government. Therefore, even if the deadline is extended 20 times, Buhari and Emefiele will still be unable to find a solution, especially now that they are more confused than ever.

“Worse, the president has refused to listen to any advice or voice of reason from any source. Even his closest friends, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank advised him to postpone the deadline, which he refused.

“It is inexcusable that President Buhari continues to turn a blind eye while the country burns due to the unpopular naira redesign policy, which is seriously affecting the health of the economy and sending hundreds of citizens to premature graves on a daily basis,” Zikirullahi said.

Petty traders in dilemma over old naira notes in Jos

Petty traders in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, were Friday thrown into confusion on whether or not to accept old naira notes from their customers as February 10, the deadline by the CBN on the collection of old naira notes.

The traders said they were rejecting the old notes in order not to lose their capital.

The confusion by the traders began a day before the February 10 deadline announced by the CBN governor, when he said people should use the opportunity to deposit their old naira notes before the expiration of the date.

Jamilu Abubakar said, “Honestly, we are in a difficult situation. When I came out in the morning I refused to collect the old notes from my customers, but I later started collecting it when I listened to the news on the issue. But even with that, we don’t have a clear direction on the naira notes. Today, the federal government would say something and comes out to say another thing tomorrow.”

Lawn Sarkinpawa, another Jos trader said, “It is true that people have been thrown into confusion.”

Daily Trust

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Kwankwaso’s Daughter, Kano Governor’s Wife, Files for Divorce, Offers to Refund Dowry

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November 14, 2026

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Kwankwaso’s Daughter, Kano Governor’s Wife, Files for Divorce, Offers to Refund Dowry

 

ABUJA — Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the wife of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and daughter of former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reportedly approached an Abuja court seeking the dissolution of her marriage to the governor.

 

Zainab, who is the governor’s second wife, reportedly instituted the divorce proceedings at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, in a case marked CV/97/26.

 

In her application, she reportedly expressed her willingness to refund the dowry paid by Governor Yusuf as part of the process of ending their marriage.

 

Reasons Behind Divorce Application

 

According to details contained in the court filings, Zainab cited an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, alleging that the relationship had lost the love, affection, care and emotional connection necessary for a successful marital union.

 

She also reportedly expressed concern that continuing in the marriage could make it difficult for her to observe the limits and obligations prescribed by Islamic injunctions governing marital relationships.

 

The couple reportedly got married on July 29, 2006, when Zainab was serving as an aide to her father, Senator Kwankwaso.

 

Their marriage has produced six children.

 

Court Summons Governor Yusuf

 

Following the filing of the divorce suit, the Upper Area Court in Gudu reportedly issued a summons directing Governor Yusuf to appear before it on November 17, 2026, in connection with the proceedings.

 

The development is attracting attention because of the political relationship between the governor and his father-in-law, Senator Kwankwaso, who was instrumental in Yusuf’s emergence as governor.

 

The relationship between the two political figures has reportedly become strained amid political disagreements surrounding the future of the Kwankwasiyya political movement and the governor’s political direction.

 

The divorce proceedings have now introduced a family dimension to the already widely discussed relationship between the two political camps.

 

However, the legal action should be treated separately from the political disagreements, as no established evidence in the reported court filings has linked the divorce application directly to the political differences.

 

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kano State Government nor Governor Yusuf had issued an official statement concerning the reported divorce proceedings.

 

The court is expected to hear the matter on November 17, 2026.

 

 

Kwankwaso’s Daughter, Kano Governor’s Wife, Files for Divorce, Offers to Refund Dowry

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“I Cheated Because I’m Human Too” — Divorced Restaurant Owner Accuses Ex-Husband of Sleeping With Over 16 Women

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November 14, 2026

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“I Cheated Because I’m Human Too” — Divorced Restaurant Owner Accuses Ex-Husband of Sleeping With Over 16 Women

 

A divorced restaurant owner has ignited heated discussions on social media after publicly accusing her former husband of having affairs with more than 16 women during their relationship, alleging that two of the women became pregnant for him.

The woman, whose Facebook post has attracted considerable attention, also admitted that she eventually cheated on her husband, insisting that she was not prepared to shoulder all the blame for the collapse of their marriage.

In a bold defence of her actions, she declared: “Yes, I cheated because I’m human too,” questioning why her own infidelity appeared to attract condemnation while her former husband’s alleged relationships with multiple women were being overlooked.

According to her account, the former couple met in 2019, and she claimed to have remained faithful during the early years of their relationship.

However, she alleged that things took a different turn in 2023 when she began uncovering what she described as repeated acts of infidelity by her husband.

The restaurant owner claimed that her former husband was involved with more than 16 women during their marriage. She further alleged that two of the women became pregnant for him, describing the discoveries as deeply painful and emotionally devastating.

The allegations, if established, point to the extent of the marital difficulties she says she endured before the relationship eventually collapsed.

Explaining how she eventually became involved with another person, the woman suggested that her decision was influenced by the emotional pain and betrayal she experienced over her husband’s alleged affairs.

She questioned the apparent double standards in how society judges men and women over marital infidelity, arguing that she should not be singled out for condemnation without considering the circumstances surrounding her marriage.

Her declaration, “I cheated because I’m human too,” has become a major talking point among social media users, with many debating whether repeated betrayal can explain, although not necessarily justify, a partner’s decision to retaliate through infidelity.

The revelation has also reopened conversations about trust, forgiveness, revenge, marital responsibility and the emotional consequences of unfaithfulness.

While some commenters have sympathised with the woman, arguing that nobody should be expected to endure repeated betrayal in a marriage, others have maintained that cheating remains wrong regardless of which partner commits it.

Others have questioned whether responding to infidelity with another affair only deepens the damage and makes reconciliation more difficult.

The controversy has also highlighted the different standards sometimes applied to men and women when allegations of extramarital relationships emerge.

As discussions continue, neither the former husband nor the women allegedly involved in the reported affairs have publicly responded to the accusations.

For now, the claims remain the restaurant owner’s account of what she says happened in her marriage, with no independent confirmation of the allegations.

 

“I Cheated Because I’m Human Too” — Divorced Restaurant Owner Accuses Ex-Husband of Sleeping With Over 16 Women

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Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse

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November 14, 2026

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Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse
Abducted farmer, Ibrahim Kadafa, popularly known as Ibro or K9

Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse

KADUNA, Nigeria — Residents have been thrown into mourning and outrage after armed bandits reportedly collected a staggering ₦56 million ransom before handing over the lifeless body of an abducted farmer, Ibrahim Kadafa, popularly known as Ibro or K9, to his family.

The tragic incident occurred along the Kaduna-Abuja highway corridor, where Kadafa and his friend, Mustapha Shelpidi, were reportedly kidnapped while harvesting soybeans on a farm about two weeks ago.

According to accounts from family sources, Kadafa sustained a gunshot injury to his leg while attempting to escape during the attack.

Rather than receiving medical attention, the abducted farmer was allegedly left without treatment throughout his captivity, as his family struggled to negotiate his release.

After weeks of negotiations and efforts to raise the money, the family reportedly met the kidnappers’ demands, paying ₦56 million in ransom, alongside three brand-new Samsung mobile phones and ₦20,000 worth of airtime.

However, what the family had hoped would be a joyful reunion turned into an unimaginable tragedy on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

When relatives arrived at the agreed location to receive Kadafa, the bandits reportedly handed them his corpse instead of the living man they had spent millions of naira trying to rescue.

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The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, although relatives suspect that complications arising from the untreated gunshot wound may have contributed to his death while in captivity.

Meanwhile, the fate of his friend and fellow abductee, Mustapha Shelpidi, remains unknown, raising further concerns about his safety and the possibility that he is still being held by the kidnappers.

Friends and associates of the deceased have continued to express grief over the incident, describing Kadafa as a dependable friend, responsible family member and respected figure in his community.

One of his grieving associates recalled how the late farmer regularly sought his advice on important personal decisions, describing their relationship as that of brothers.

“He was someone who believed in me enough to seek my advice whenever he needed to make important decisions. He was my brother and friend. This is wrong, in all shades,” the associate lamented.

Kadafa was reportedly the first son of his mother, who is now left to mourn his death, while several of his siblings reside in Abuja.

His killing has renewed concerns over the worsening security situation along the Kaduna-Abuja highway and surrounding rural communities, where farmers, travellers and other residents remain vulnerable to attacks and abductions.

The incident has also raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of security operations in the area, particularly as kidnapping victims and their families continue to face devastating consequences despite paying huge sums to secure their freedom.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on Kadafa’s death or provide details about efforts to rescue Shelpidi.

The family and community are now left mourning a man whose relatives reportedly paid millions of naira in the hope of bringing him home alive.

Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse

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