“Don’t allow your money to become papers,” Gombe traditional ruler to residents  

“Don’t allow your money to become papers,” Gombe traditional ruler to residents
 
Dr James Chachis, the Nidu’grah Cham, the paramount ruler of Cham Chiefdom in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State has advised members of his chiefdom to take advantage of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cash swap programme to phase out their old notes.

Chachis stated this at his palace in Cham on Wednesday when he received a delegation of CBN officials who visited him to sensitise as well as swap the old notes for the newly redesigned ones in line with the apex bank’s desire to assist rural dwellers overcome the challenge of accessing the newly redesigned notes.

The royal father while addressing his subjects at the engagement said the initiative was commendable as it is community-based which he said would help bring down the tension amongst residents.

He said many residents of his chiefdom were worried about the need to access the new notes to carry out small transactions for daily living.

“You have heard what the CBN officials have said and I want to tell you to go and exchange your notes before they become papers.

“ Thank God for the extension if not for now they would have become mere papers for burning.
“But now you have the chance to change them so go and do so; since CBN has taken the stress of you by coming to your doorsteps.”

Chachis, however, expressed concerns over the short supply of the newly redesigned naira notes to his chiefdom, adding “even the N10, 000 cash swap is small but it is better than nothing,” he said.
Geinaba Geri, a resident of Cham said if the Jan. 31 deadline was maintained he would have lost N10, 000 but “I am glad, CBN came to help me out because I have given up hope of changing them.”

Yahaya Balajo, a retired civil servant said he was happy that the deadline was extended else he would have lost the N10, 000 he swapped on Wednesday.

Our Correspondent reports that the CBN team alongside agents from some commercial banks sited a swap centre at the palace of the royal father where residents trooped out en masse to get their old notes swapped for the newly redesigned naira notes.

“Don’t allow your money to become papers,” Gombe traditional ruler to residents