NOA sensitises HFE on redesigned naira notes

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has commenced sensitisation of Heads of Federal Establishments in Akwa Ibom State on the redesigned new naira notes introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Mrs Esther Peter, State Director of NOA said this in her presentation at the Association of Heads of Federal Establishments meeting in Uyo on Tuesday.

It will be recalled that the CBN on 15 December 2022 launched redesign N200, N500 and N1000 Naira notes with multiple security features to the public.

According to Peter, the sensitisation became necessary so that the heads of federal establishments will take the message to the grassroots for the general acceptance of the notes by Nigerians.

She stated that the NOA would carry out an advocacy campaign to traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths, students, and market women associations.

She added that the agency has commenced jingles on radio stations in the state in vernacular and pidgin, adding that flyers would be distributed during the exercise to drive the message down the grassroots.

Peter said the policy was aimed at strengthening the economy and not targeted at any group of Nigerians as speculated.

She said the sensitisation is intended to reach the people at the grassroots and keep them abreast of the government policies and programmes.

She called on residents to take the policy serious and ensure that they deposited their old notes into their bank account as the N200, N500 and N1000 would seize to be legal tender from January 31.

The state director said that the sensitisation campaign would be taken to all the local government areas for better understanding.

“For the policy to achieve the intended purposes and accepted, residents, especially those at the grassroots need to be sensitised, educated and mobilised for better understanding of government programmes.

“Citizens are to take their old N200, N500and N1000 notes to the bank for lodgement. There will be no charge by banks on deposit above the threshold,” she said.

The state director enumerated the benefits of the policy to include; ensuring less excessive cash in circulation, reduce inflation, reduce expenditure on cash management and strengthen the economy among others.

She said NOA as the lead agency in propagating federal government policies and programmes would not relent in keeping citizens abreast of what government was doing to improve on the lives of Nigerians.