Nigeria is currently experiencing a tense situation with the rejection of old naira notes by some commercial banks, petrol stations, traders, and supermarket owners in Sokoto State. This is in defiance of the rulings of the Supreme Court and subsequent advice by the National Council of States on new naira notes.According to findings by a correspondent in the state, most of the commercial banks in Sokoto State have refused to collect the old naira notes from customers. Customers have reported that they were not able to make deposits with the old notes as the cashiers refused to collect them.The branch managers have informed the customers that the Central Bank of Nigeria sent a memo to all commercial banks to stop receiving the old notes.
The rejection of the old naira notes has also extended to petrol stations, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation mega stations. This may escalate the already tense situation in the state.A resident of the state has condemned the attitude of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government for not listening to the cries of the masses in the country. He believes that this situation may lead to reactions from Nigerians if the government does not do the needful.