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Banks customers lament limited access to new Naira in Kebbi

Published

3 years ago

January 24, 2023

New Naira notes

Banks’ customers in Birnin Kebbi, who thronged commercial banks to either deposit or withdraw money, were held up in long queues as many from different towns and villages to beat up deadline set by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) experienced difficulties.

Daily investigation in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital show that customers in their large numbers were sighted at different banks trying to gain access into the banking halls or to the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to withdraw new notes.

Speaking to newsmen, at one of the commercial bank in Birnin Kebbi, Malam Musa Gero from Kukaru, Gulma in Argungu Local Government Area of the state said he had been on queue since 6:00a.m. but yet without access to the bank.

“I have been here for over five hours waiting in the queue to deposit my money. As I am talking to you I am number 260 because the bank officials have written our names and issued numbers to all of us, so, we are still waiting,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to consider the plights of Nigerians and extend the time to accommodate all, failing which many people would be counting losses even before the deadline. Gero recalled that he was a die-hard Buharist before his emergence as president, “but that his policies seem to be contrary to the needs of the masses.

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Also in an interview at First Bank premises, Malam Muktar Sambo from Zogirma village, Bunza Local Government Area, lamented that in the whole of the area they didn’t have a single bank to be able to do any transaction.

He said: “We travel all the way from Bunza to come here and deposit our money since we do not have anywhere to keep our money. “The timing is so short because they said 31st of this month, we came here to withdraw N100,000 but they said a person can only withdraw N40,000 at the ATM machines.

“What kind of wickedness is this, somebody with his own money cannot withdraw N100,000 as stipulated by the apex bank. We are appealing to government to rescind its decision by extending the period to enable Nigerians enjoy their hard earned wealth.”

For his part, Malam Ibrahim Hassan, from Birnin Kebbi local government area, said he had been on the queue of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) since 7:00a.m. to deposit his money in order to beat the Jan. 31 deadline.

“I am one of those who came first to the bank to deposit money, I have been here before 7:00a.m. but I still have more than 100 people in my front on the queue,” he said.

Hassan decried the non-availability of the new Naira notes in circulation in the state and called on the government to review its policy or extend the deadline.

“Even in the bank now if you want to withdraw money they still give you old Naira notes. This is to tell you that even the banks are in short supply of the new Naira notes.

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“I am appealing to CBN to review its policy or extend the deadline by some months for people to have their money changed or deposited in banks.

“Failure to heed to the aforesaid plea may lead to stampede and even deaths but I am not praying for that to happen” he said.

Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has asked the the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to give adequate sensitisation on the currency rebranding to checkmate negative impacts on its end users especially traders in the rural and riverine communities .

Governor Emmanuel , who made the advocacy while addressing worshippers at the January 2023 edition of Government House Prayer Summit held at Latter House Chapel , Governor’s Lodge – Uyo, at the weekend

applauded the currency rebranding, even as he said it was “hasty and inconsiderate” of many people particularly given the infrastructure gap and peculiarities of the vast rural and riverine population.

He warned against stifling the grassroots economy in trying to implement a seemingly welcome development.

Mr Emmanuel observed that the old currency notes were already becoming scarce while the new notes were yet to be adequately circulated, expressingworries over inadequate sensitisation to ensure that traders at the rural and riverine communities are carried along and not get stranded in the market with the old notes. Sun

Related Topics:Banks Featured Kebbi Naira

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Sokoto Officials Deny Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

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Sokoto Officials Deny Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Ayuba Hashimu, has dismissed viral reports alleging that bandits attacked a mosque in the council area, killing an Imam and several worshippers.

Some online platforms had circulated claims that armed bandits stormed a mosque in Sabon Birni, murdered the Imam and congregants, and abducted others.
However, Hashimu, speaking by telephone, described the reports as entirely false.

“I don’t know any mosque that was attacked, not to talk of killing of an Imam and worshippers. The story is false,” he stated.

A member of the state legislature representing the area, Hon. Aminu Boza, also debunked the claims, insisting that no mosque attack occurred on Saturday.

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“I don’t know how they got their story, but it is not true. No mosque was attacked by bandits,” he said.

While officials denied the alleged mosque incident, a separate early morning assault on Gatawa town within the same LGA resulted in five deaths and left one person critically injured.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that six people — including two married women, two teenage girls and two young boys — were abducted by attackers suspected to be bandits.

“The bandits invaded our community around 1:30 a.m. and started shooting sporadically. Our vigilantes engaged them, but four of them paid the supreme price on the spot. Two others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to the hospital, but one later died,” the resident said.

He added that the attackers also stole livestock as they fled.
“We heard them exchanging fire with security agents, but none of the abducted persons was rescued,” he recounted.

Sokoto Officials Deny Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

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FG Begins Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools

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December 7, 2025

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FG Begins Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools

The Federal Government has commenced the official recovery of 157 model Almajiri schools built during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a renewed push to overhaul Almajiri education across the country.

The move was confirmed by Nura Muhammad, spokesperson for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), during an interview in Abuja on Sunday. He described the recovery process as a crucial step toward fully revamping and institutionalising Almajiri education.

Muhammad explained that the effort follows the establishment of a legally backed national body now responsible for all Almajiri-related programmes — a structure he said was missing during earlier reform attempts.

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While commending former President Jonathan for constructing the schools, which he described as “a noble and well-intentioned stride toward modernising the system,” Muhammad noted that the previous initiative struggled due to weak policy implementation, including inadequate engagement with Alarammas, the traditional Qur’anic teachers who play a central role in the Almajiri system.

He added that the lack of a strong institutional framework — with the project operating only as an initiative under the Federal Ministry of Education — contributed to its challenges.

According to him, the Commission is now strengthened by law and guided by the newly adopted National Policy on Almajiri Education, positioning it to deliver sustainable reforms.

Muhammad expressed confidence that harmful practices linked to the Almajiri system would be addressed, emphasising that all recovered schools would soon be fully under the Commission’s control and rehabilitated to serve their original purpose.

FG Begins Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools

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Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

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December 7, 2025

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Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

The Delta State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu in Anambra State, arresting key suspects linked to the case.

Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe disclosed on Sunday that operatives of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on credible intelligence, apprehended 25-year-old security guard Godwin Mngumi on 6 December 2025. Mngumi allegedly murdered the retired judge, and authorities also recovered the deceased’s mobile phone from him.

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According to Edafe, Mngumi confessed to inviting a friend, Nnaji Obalum, and another accomplice — who remains at large — to the residence where the crime was committed. Obalum has since been arrested, while a manhunt continues for the third suspect.

The arrests mark a major step forward in the effort to bring all perpetrators of the high-profile murder to justice.