President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by governors who were elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to permit the coexistence of the old and new naira notes in order to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
Speaking to select journalists in Hausa Language on Friday, after the governors’ meeting with the President, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai claimed that while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had mopped up almost N2 trillion in old notes, it had only printed N300 billion, which he claimed was insufficient.
El-Rufai, who was accompanied by his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, said even if the CBN had wanted to implement the cashless policy, it should have printed half of what it mopped up, for a start, which ought to be N1 trillion.
He said they told the President the masses are suffering and traders are losing their goods due to lack of patronage.
He referred to a tomatoes seller that travelled to Lagos with their goods but got nothing because people had no money to buy.
The Governor said they appealed to the President to reconsider his stances. El-Rufai however said Buhari did not tell them yes or no.
He disclosed that Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Atiku Bagudu, has gone back to meet the President privately with the hope to convince him.
As of the time of filing this report, he was being awaited to address the media.
Details Shortly…