Ganduje shuts supermarket in Kano over refusal to accept old naira notes

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, has ordered the closure of Wellcare supermarket over its refusal of old naira notes from customers.

The government, who is against the naira redesign, had directed the continued acceptance of the old naira notes in the state.

On Thursday, the state government filed a suit against the federal government over the naira redesign.

Kano is seeking an order mandating the federal government to reverse the policy to recall the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes from circulation.

Speaking to journalists after the closure, Baffa Agudi, chairperson of the state’s consumer protection council, said legal action will be taken against the supermarket.

Agudi warned other marketers in Kano to be aware that the state government has not banned the use of old naira notes as legal tender.

He said any shop that is caught refusing the old naira notes will be dealt with decisively.

Responding to the closure, the management of the supermarket, in a letter to the governor, apologised for its action.

It pleaded with the governor to reopen its business premises.

“Due to the federal government policy on the New Naira Notes, we gave wrong instructions to our staff that from the 10th day of February, 2023, only the new approved Naira Notes are to be in circulation,” the letter reads.

“On an expansive investigation with our bankers, they declined to receive old Naira Notes on our behalf, unknown to all parties that the state has a policy that the old notes are to be in circulation.

“On this basis, we sincerely apologise for our actions and deeply regret any inconvenience this may have caused the state.

“We humbly plead that our business should be re-opened for deserving members of the public as we undertake to receive ootenotes as valid tender to when the state issues and otherwise directive.

“Please do accept our regards and sincere apologies.”