Yinka Olaito
Neighbourhood around Eleyele, Ologuneru and Eruwa road axis witnessed a surge of unrests and disruption this morning as commuters and pockets of other transporters were seen fighting over the latter’s refusal to accept old naira as the new naira notes were not available. Yesterday, the Central Bank of Nigeria issued a new rule with regards to mopping up of old naira notes. In the said release, old naira notes had ceased to be legal tenders in Nigeria from February 10, 2022.
It will be recalled the Supreme Court of Nigeria had ruled that the federal government should compel CBN to continue to accept old naira notes as legal tender pending all appeals(?) But the insist CBN had claimed it has the final jurisdiction on issues of currency. The confusion created continued to linger why the majority of Nigerians continue to suffer hardship. The tension continued to brew and more palpable in some southern states which include Ogun, Oyo and delta states,
This morning fracas erupted in Eleyele, Ologuneru area in Ibadan as some motorists along these routes refused to accept the old notes which seemed to be the only succour or means of survival for the majority. An eye witness claimed the crisis was not fatal and did not include loss of lives but tyres among others stuff were set ablaze by the rioters. This created heavy traffic along that corridor.
Another eye witness also claimed there were pockets of miscreants who are using the opportunity to steal, exhort money from passer byes.
Recalled that about two weeks ago, Iwo road, Sango, Agodi Gate, Dugbe among others prominent areas in the city were not spared as riots broke out in the same capital city of Oyo State-Ibadan. In actual fact, a man lost his life in Apata Ibadan as a result of a related riot.
