Scarcity of Naira notes Protests Foiled In Benin, Okowa Pleads

There are reports of planned protests in Benin, the Edo State capital over difficulty foisted on the populace by scarcity of naira notes.

Despite long and frustrating queues at the banks, some people are said to be rejecting the old ones thereby creating more frustration for the populace.

This triggered a protest at the Edo State capital where some people were believed to have lost their lives.

A source told The Eagle that trouble started when enraged youths carrying totems of protest like leaves, sticks and stones mobiled on the major streets, and also attempting torching a branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

The source said it took the determination of securitymen to keep the youths from torching buildings.

READ ALSO: Edwin Clark Contends Buhari’s Insistence on Open Grazing – Says

At the nearby Delta State, the governor, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa has appealed for calm amidst scarcity of the new naira notes.

In a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, called on the populace to remain calm while the federal government and its agencies sorted out the problems.

Protests by some persons at Orhuwhorun Community in Udu Local Government Area of the state had led to the Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) of a bank being vandalised.

“We appeal to our brothers and sisters across the state to keep calm in spite of the current travails they are going through as a result of the scarcity of naira notes in the country.

 READ ALSO: EFCC Arrests 2 Owners Of ‘Yahoo Schools’, 7 Others In Edo State

“As a government we are not unaware of your sufferings but we appeal to you to be patient with the monetary authorities as they take steps to improve on the money supply in the country.

“We are very much aware of your pains and concerns, but burning down a bank that employs our people will not augur well for us as a nation even as it will not also solve the problem but will further compound the situation.

“Once again we appeal to you all to sheath your swords while we continue to engage the CBN to ensure more funds are released to the banks in the country,” Okowa was quoted in the NAN as saying.