It’s illegal to reject old naira notes, Sanwo-Olu tells Lagos residents

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos, says in line with the judgement of the supreme court, old naira notes remain legal tender in the state.

On March 3, the supreme court ruled that the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.

The judgment was a result of a suit filed by 16 states in the country, including Lagos, challenging the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the apex court.

Following the judgment, checks by TheCable showed that many business owners and petty traders in Lagos have refused to accept payments made with the old naira notes.

In a statement issued on Monday by  Gbenga Omotoso, the commissioner for information, the governor advised all agencies of the state government not to reject payments made with the old currency.

“The Lagos state government has noted the hardship sparked by the naira redesign policy, which has affected business and commercial activities. There is no reason to reject the old notes, going by the supreme court judgment delivered on March 3, 2023,” he said.

“The apex court declared that no reasonable notice was given as required by section 20(3) of the CBN act, noting that the public only became aware of the policy through press remarks, which cannot qualify as a notice to the public.

“The court maintained that the policy has impeded the functions of state governments, pointing out that the directive that stops the use of the old notes is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has, therefore, called on business owners, especially retailers, to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes – in line with the supreme court judgment that the currency remains legal tender until December 31, 2023. It is illegal to reject the notes.”