Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos state has warned that any bank branch in the state that refuses to accept or dispense old notes will be shut down.
Sanwo-Olu issued the warning in an open letter he shared on his Instagram page this afternoon, March 13. The governor also released telephone numbers through which residents can report offending banks.
”My dear Lagosians, I have noted the difficulties that you have been having over the naira redesign crisis. I feel your pain.
I discussed this with top officials in CBN who assured me that commercial banks were directed to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes as deposits and pay them out for withdrawals. They informed me that commercial banks got the directive at a Bankers Committee meeting on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
I, therefore, urge you to go ahead and have transactions with the old notes. Lagosians should feel free to use the old notes for commercial purposes. Retailers, transporters, traders, and all businesses must not reject them, as they remain legal tender, following the Supreme Court verdict, which extends the validity of the notes to December 31, 2023.
Any business that fails to collect the notes will be heavily sanctioned.
I, therefore, advise Lagos residents to freely accept and transact their businesses with the old currency notes (N200; N500; and N1,000)as well as the new notes.”
If any bank refuses to accept deposits of old notes, please lodge a complaint with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) via these numbers; 08124993895, 09064323154, 08092509777.
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