NOA takes sensitization campaign to 774 local gov’ts on Naira redesign

“The aim purpose of this parley is to present the report of our sensitization activities at the community level, especially as it pertains to the forthcoming general elections, the planned national housing and population census and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy on the redesign of the Naira

By Moses Okorie

The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has taken its sensitization campaign to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria to educate them on the Naira notes redesign and cash swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

This was made known by its Director General, Dr. Garba Abari, at a media parley to present a report of the general activities of the agency and its interventions on CBN naira redesign, political and voter education, the forthcoming national housing and population census among others on Monday, February 20, 2023.

Abari who displayed pictorial evidences of his men carrying out the campaign at market places, churches, mosques, radio stations, palaces of traditional rulers and other public places across the federation said the aim was to let the people know more on the three core issues currently on the front burner.

“The aim purpose of this parley is to present the report of our sensitization activities at the community level, especially as it pertains to the forthcoming general elections, the planned national housing and population census and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy on the redesign of the Naira.

“As you are aware, these three are, presently, the dominant programmes of government that have far-reaching implications for our political, economic and social development as a nation.

“As the primary agency of the Federal Government that has the mandate to explain government policy directives, we continue to engage with the media and other stakeholders.

“Three weeks after the introduction of the policy, we approached CBN for a partnership that will take the communication to the grassroots. We reasoned that the redesign will have huge impact for Nigerians living in the communities, especially those living where banks do not operate and those without internet access”.

The NOA DG said his field officers in the 774 local council areas and the 36 states have been mobilised to sensitize Nigerians on the need to keep to the deadline for banking all cash which was, initially January 31, 2023 before the ten days extension.

“People need to learn how to use electronic platforms to perform monetary transactions, understand the e-naira pay system and the USSD portal”.

Abari said after their sensitization campaign, they received feedback from the public on what the government needed to do for the smooth implementation of the cash swap policy.

“People were of the opinion that NOA sensitization campaign should have commenced earlier before the new Naira Redesign Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria commenced, so as to gain citizens buying.

“Stakeholders commended the NOA and CBN for the sensitization campaign and promised to step down the messages to others so as to meet up with the deadline.

“It was observed that there were large number of people who misconceived or have wrong perception of the New Naira Redesign Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“There is the need to redouble efforts towards creating more awareness on the policy.

“Some people were of the opinion that time allocated for the change of New Naira notes is insufficient and many people can’t meet the deadline.

“Commercial banks were not issuing the new Naira notes to the public as a result most People in the rural areas said they were yet to see the New redesigned Naira notes”, the DG said.

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