New naira: Extend deadline, Ganduje, clerics urge CBN

The Kano State Government and Islamic clerics from Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya, and Izala sects in the state have called on the Federal Government to extend the January 31 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, to stop accepting old naira notes.

The call was sequel to the resolution of a meeting by the state governor Ganduje, top government officials, and Islamic clerics at the Government House on Thursday.

The meeting, according to a statement by Hassan Musa Fagge, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, on Friday, noted that economic activities had been paralyzed in Kano due to hardship caused by the shortage of the new naira notes.

“The meeting, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari that out of his magnanimity to consider the suffering caused to people of the State due to the shortage of the new naira notes and extend the deadline set by the CBN,” the statement read in part.

The statement added that the meeting was also attended by the Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna; his running-mate Murtala Sule Garo; APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas; and the Islamic clerics.