Jigawa State in Nigeria has declared the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes legal tender and warned that anyone who refuses to accept them will face consequences. This is in contrast to the announcement made by President Muhammadu Buhari, who stated that the old N500 and N1000 notes were no longer legal tender in the country. The Jigawa State government has cited an ongoing suit at the Supreme Court as the basis for its decision to allow the use of the old notes.
In an announcement on Thursday evening, Mr. Bala Ibrahim, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, urged individuals and corporate bodies to stop rejecting the old notes and follow the law. He also emphasized that people who refuse to accept the old notes will be reported to the appropriate authorities. The Jigawa State Government has indicated that it will use section 287(1) of the Constitution (as amended) and other extant laws to enforce the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
President Buhari had directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release old N200 notes into circulation as legal tender for the next 60 days, while those with 500 and 1000 naira were directed to deposit them at the Central Bank and other designated points. He also apologized to Nigerians for any difficulties caused by the redesign policy of the naira.
