Agency Report

By Moses Kolo

As the 2023 general elections draws near, the Bantex Memorial Foundation has underscored the need for stakeholders to redouble their efforts at sensitizing electorates on the importance of a hitch free exercise.

The Chief Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr. Banta Bala made the call on Friday in Kagoro, while addressing participants at a one day sensitization organized by the Foundation for women leaders in Kaura Local Government Area.

The program which drew women leaders from the Christian and Muslim faiths, had the theme, strengthening voter understanding and engagement in the electoral process.

Banta explained that the choice of women for the sensitization was deliberate, considering the fact that they constitute the vital part of the society and the role they play in influencing the lives of both the young and older generation.

He hoped that those present at the program will step down the training at their various communities for more people to be informed.

One of the facilitators, Mrs. Hannatu Ahuwan who sensitized them on the new Electoral Act as amended and her counterpart Mr. Samuel Kenneth Yashim, who focused on election process on election day, tasked the participants to resist attempts by selfish politicians who might want to buy their votes on elections day.

They urged them to ensure they obey all the guidelines that will be given to them by electoral officials during elections, so as to ensure smooth conduct of the exercise.

Some of the participants who spoke in an interview, commended the Bantex Memorial Foundation for organizing the training, which they said has exposed them to lots of information that hitherto they do not know.

News Local

Create your own economy– Femi Adesina replies critics of new naira notes

IMA ELIJAH

December 2, 2022 11:12 AM

Since the announcement of the change of naira notes, many Nigerians have criticized the idea; saying, it will not necessarily benefit the economy in any way...

Femi Adesina

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, on Friday criticised those condemning the newly redesigned naira notes after they were officially unveiled by the Nigerian leader last week.

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What happened: Many Twitter and Facebook users took a swipe at the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for what they described as an unimpressive design.

But responding to the critics via his weekly column, Adesina mocked them, asking disparagers to “create their own economy.

What he said: “They have tried to deride the new notes. Oh, it’s a mere coloring of the old ones with crayon. No rigour has gone into the exercise. Kidnappers will now start asking for ransom in hard currencies. Bla bla bla.

“They have an option: refuse to embrace the new notes, hoard the old ones, and continue presenting them as legal tender after January 31, next year. They will then have to create their own economy. Lol,” he wrote.

How Nigerians felt about the change: Since the announcement of the change of naira notes, many Nigerians have criticized the idea; saying, it will not necessarily benefit the economy in any way. However, it till zap money out of the system as it costs a lot to print new currency notes.

How much is CBN spending to print new naira notes: N75. 52 billion was spent on printing new naira notes in 2019; and N58. 07 billion in 2020 respectively. However, the apex bank is yet to disclose what it'll cost to print and circulate the new notes.