It is a crazy world we live in. For a few weeks now, there have been a series of instructions to follow or not to follow. In our beloved country, Nigeria where we have been having the currency swap brouhaha, it hasn't been friendly at all.
When the news came in sometime in November 2023, I was personally elated, thinking that there would be a change in the value of the currency. How wrong I was.
We deposited all our money to the bank with the anxiety of receiving the new currency in replacement but we met the shock of our lives. The new currency was not available. In the banking hall, it was not paid at the counter and there was no cash at the ATM paying points. What a disaster ðŸ˜
The case got worse when the Supreme court gave a verdict that the old currency should remain in circulation and be legal tender and the Central bank was of the view that the Supreme court cannot push it around, that the apex court does not have the legal backing to control its affairs. Now we are in a state of Pixma Pixma. There is confusion everywhere. Take all your physical money to the bank and you will become broke even if you have some money in your bank account. Wonders shall never end.
Keep money in your wallet and it is illegal. Where do we go from here, my people?
Between this agitation in my mind, I had to spend all the old notes in my possession to meet up with the deadline of 15th of February. In fact, on the said date of the expiration of the old notes, some shop owners or traders have stopped collecting them, saying it is no longer legal tender. Hungry almost killed me. In my fear, I started looking for means of spending my.old naira note, all to no avail. Social media platforms too did not help the situation in any way. Luckily, I saw a woman selling dried fish who was collecting the said old note. I quickly spent a whopping five thousand naira only to buy dried fish.
Then Suddenly……
After I had bought the dried fish, like two hours later, breaking news over the airwave started spreading. The Supreme Court had ordered that the old note would remain a legal tender until the 22nd of February, 2023 when the matter will be heard in court again.
As I speak to you my dear friends, it is only that fish I have as an asset as we speak. My ATM card is not worth anything because it cannot produce the needed cash.
Despite that announcement, the commercial banks refused to accept the old notes, meaning that the old notes are no longer legal tender. Who do we follow now? Do we obey the Supreme Court order or follow the counsel of the Central bank?
Can you beat it?
We are going to be addressed today on the matter by our dear, President Buhari.
Should this world end already?
Just yesterday in parts of Edo state, there were pockets of protest because of the unavailability of cash. Banks were destroyed even in Warri, Delta state.
There is no part of the world where a change in currency has led to unrest and violence. I hope that very soon, all these will be over and we will be back on track.
Back To The Ancient Times
May I suggest to my Nigerian brothers. It is time we go back to the way of our fathers. Sorry, our forefathers.
Trade by barter is the best. We will not need the coloured paper anymore. The coloured paper is the problem of the world we live in.
For instance, if I have rice and you have fish, we could exchange one for the other. With that, life continues.