Scarcity of Naira: Ibadan Boils, Governor’s Office Attacked, Banks Shut Doors

By Adesina Soyooye

The sufferings of the people, occasioned  by the Scarcity of Naira boiled over on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State, when hundreds  of protesters stormed the streets.

They are hungry and they are angry. They cannot get out their money from the banks, and so, cannot buy food. Their lives are at a standstill. They are frustrated, so they took their frustration to the streets of Ibadan.

In their hundreds, some  carrying sticks and clubs, they siezed a vehicle belonging to Amotekun- the Regional Security Outfit – around Adamasingba area, and began to harass people.

They also stormed and attacked the Governor’s office at the Agodi area of Ibadan. Fear reigns.

Banks and offices have shut down their doors for fear of attacks and vandalization.

Ever since the Central Bank of Nigeria redesigned three denominations of the Naira and announced a January 31 deadline for the exchange, crisis has hit Nigeria.

A couple of days ago, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had given a 10-day break to end on February 10. But that has not eased the sufferings of the people. Instead it gets worse.

Banks are not dispensing money, nor are ATM and POS machines working and people are  hungry. They have resorted to fighting in the banks and at ATM points with some people stripping and asking for their money.

After a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Friday, Buhari asked for seven days to sort the problems out, and attributed the difficulties being experienced to greediness.

However, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, added a new twist when he said that only the poor are suffering as Governors and top politicians and businessmen already has the new Naira stashed away. He said they have their own way of getting the money, and disclosed that an unnamed Governor just withdrew the sum of N500 million from a bank.

The Governors appealed to the President to allow the usage of the  old and new notes.

Unless things ease out, the protest is likely to spread.