Naira Redesign: Senate Seeks Deadline Extension To June 30

 The Senate has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to urgently extend the withdrawal date of old currency notes from January 31 to June 30, 2023.

The Senate resolution was sequel to a point of order raised by Sen. Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno) during the plenary on Wednesday. 

The CBN had on October 26, announced plans to redesign the 200, 500, and 1,000 naira notes.

Raising Orders 41 and 51 of Senate Standing Rule, Ndume said that the call for extension of the date should be considered as a matter of urgent national importance in order to forestall imminent hardship on Nigerians.


Ndume said, “This senate notes that many Nigerian banks on Thursday, December 15, opened their vaults to customers and depositors to exchange their old currency for the newly redesigned currency which has a stipulated deadline of January 31.

“Some Nigerians are already envisaging long queues in the banking hall across the country as a result of people trying to get access to the new naira note.

“The old notes are expected to be in circulation along the new ones until January 31 when the old ones are expected to be phased out.


“It is expected that many Nigerian businesses will start to rig the old notes as soon as banks start paying redesigned notes to customers.”

The lawmaker also said that access to the new notes would be compounded by recent circular by the CBN which limited the amount of cash withdrawal by corporate entities to withdraw within certain period of time.

He stated, “The withdrawal of old notes from circulation if not extended beyond 31, many Nigerians will be thrown into hardship and to avoid the repeat of 1984 experience withdrawal of old notes.”

Contributing Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi) said that it was true that in rural areas, people were not even aware that there was going to be currency change.

“So this motion is very apt and timely. If we insist on the date given by CBN, it will cause a lot of hardship for our rural dwellers.

“Majority of our people live in rural areas where there are no banks and PoS. It is appropriate we extend the time as suggested in the motion,”Aliero said.

Is This A Fake N1000 Note Or CBN Error?

 This new note is getting more confusing. 

I got this new 1000 naira notes like 30 pieces this morning in between many old notes. 

I sorted it out and just run all through mercury light because I was in a rush to check it individually. Everything was fine.

But I was shocked when i got to the bank, I was told the golden security detail is missing on 1 of the 1000 naira notes, even though all other details were present. 

It was also validated under their mercury light at the bank and it was valid. 

Long story short, it was tagged fake and perforated. Could this be an error from CBN or Fake money has bypassed the mercury light check?

Richard Mofe-Damijo And Wife, Jumobi, Celebrate 22nd Wedding Anniversary

 Actor Richard Mofe-Damijo And Wife, Jumobi, Celebrate 22nd Wedding Anniversary (Photo)

Veteran Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo and wife, Jumobi, celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary today, IGBERETV reports.

The actor posted a photo of them on his Instagram page with the caption;

''22 years and counting! Thank you Abk!

Ps. solomon, Glo staff and Bimbo no need to screenshot and send. She knows. I’ve permission to post anything but I’ve chosen to respect myself and post just one.

#RMDSaysSo #WeddingAnniversary #22years''

Three Nigerians Arrested In India With Cocaine And Other Drugs Worth N14m

 Three Nigerian nationals were arrested in Thane, Maharashtra, for alleged unlawful possession of narcotics.

The three accused were arrested from the Wagle Estate area opposite a popular shopping mall by officers of the Thane Crime Branch Unit-5 on Saturday, December 24, 2022.

The police seized 60gm cocaine and 70gm of Mephedrone commonly known as MD collectively worth Rs 27 lakh from the suspects.
Other items like mobiles, passport and visa were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.

The three accused arrested are; Obasi alias Mago Eugene Stanley (45) a resident of Nalasopara in Palghar district, Prosper Okoro Wachukwu (44) a resident of Mira-Road and Sunday Boateng (25) a resident of Malad.

"The three arrested accused planned to sell the narcotics but they were intercepted by the police and were arrested," Vikas Ghodke, senior police inspector, Thane Crime Branch Unit-5 said.

"They have been booked under Sections 8 (C), 21 (B) and 29 of the NDPS Act. As during the Christmas and New Year the demands for the drugs rise and the reason the Nigerians sell those drugs for the parties. We are investigating whether the three Nigerians had brought the drugs for sale for the New Year.


"We have also appealed to the concerned citizens to report about the sale of drugs in any parts of the Thane city to us on a priority basis."

El-Rufai Wants Politicians Using Religion As Campaign Tool Punished

 The governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has stressed the need to punish politicians using religion as a campaign tool. The governor spoke yesterday in Kaduna at the commissioning ceremony of the head office of the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development.

He expressed concern over the way and manner some politicians were using religion and ethnicity to create division in their campaigns. He said the 2023 elections presented a unique opportunity for Nigerians to take religion out of politics.

El-Rufai also called on royal fathers and scholars to pray to God to choose the best leader that will unite and move the country forward in the forthcoming general elections in February, 2023.

He further called on the royal fathers and scholars to communicate to the people the absolute need to ensure that future elections did not centre on religion but on what a person could do to improve the lot of the ordinary.

“People are united in their poverty, in their need for education, in decent healthcare and to put food on their table, that is what we should focus on but some people are holding meetings to promote religious and ethnic division.

That is the last thing Nigeria needs at a time when the whole world is facing challenges of ultra-nationalism and global supply chain disruption.”

He then asked for forgiveness, saying, “We try to do what is right but only God is right, my apologies to anyone that I have offended, we have five months to go and I will like to leave and sleep in peace.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and grand patron of the foundation, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar said the foundation has been engaging with various stakeholders and working towards uplifting the standard of living of the ummah.

The coordinator of the foundation and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mere commended the governor of Kaduna State for allocating the land for the construction of the foundation’s head office and also donating N25 million to support the building.

Disquiet In APC Over Buhari’s Non-participation In Tinubu’s Campaign

 Less than 60 days to Nigeria’s Presidential election fixed for 25th of February, 2023, there are growing concerns over the level of support the All Progressives Congress (APC) is enjoying from the President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected twice on the party’s platform.

Insider source in the party has revealed that the party’s Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has not received the kind of support expected from the Buhari Presidency despite loud public claims that the President will campaign for candidate.

The views expressed by some Chieftains of the party indicate that the Presidency may not be too keen to display elaborate open support for the APC Presidential candidate.

The debate began to grow in the polity in recent times over Buhari’s real stand in Tinubu’s Presidential ambition, following what seemed an aloofness by the chief occupant of the Aso Rock Villa over his party’s candidate.

The belief in many quarters is that Buhari originally had a candidate, but that his inability to lay his card on the table on time, was why the matter went out of his hand, resulting in the emergence of Tinubu.

The President, it is said, has been struggling to come over the shock and now appears to have been caught between the devil and the blue sea.

Many analysts and commentators had, in the last few days, alleged that the body language of Buhari was not pointing towards any support for Tinubu.

Last month in London, the United Kingdom, after meeting King Charles III, President Buhari, had during an interview, urged Nigerian voters to “vote for whoever they like from whichever political party.”

In his published opinion in a national newspaper, headlined: ‘Will Buhari vote for Tinubu?’ Lasisi Olagunju, said: “A president who said this is not likely to hop from jet to jet campaigning for someone. He has repeatedly promised that he would not be anybody’s fool or tool of interference in the coming polls’ processes. He has said so everywhere he has been in the last couple of months to the sorrow of those banking on presidential sleight of hand to win. I am not surprised that the South-West APC is not at ease at all. They daily read Abuja’s lips and steps and exchange furtive glances.

“They sigh. Even Buhari’s recent currency change is being seen as a vital component of his war against politics – and against those who won’t succeed him.

Falz Reacts To The Murder Of Bolanle Raheem By A Police Officer

Nigerian Rapper, Falz, has said that if the police officer alleged to have shot and killed pregnant Lagos Lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, is not punished and the details of his punishment publicized for all to see, it might be interpreted as an invitation for chaos, IGBERETV reports.

The singer in a series of Tweets stated that when Nigerian youths came out in October 2020 to protest against police brutality, they were referred to as recalcitrants who are just out to foment trouble. He argued that despite the recommendations made by the EndSARS panels instituted, nothing has been done. 

See his tweets below.

"@jidesanwoolu @PoliceNG 
When we refused to leave the streets in October 2020, we were referred to as recalcitrant #EndSars youth that just wanted to make trouble. 

TWO YEARS after a panel made recommendations regarding those cases, they have still not been implemented.."

"@jidesanwoolu @PoliceNG 

Another man in police uniform took the life of a pregnant Bolanle Raheem on Christmas Day.

If this person isn’t punished & all details PUBLISHED for everyone to see, I am afraid many will interpret that as an invitation to chaos. 

Humble advice."