Beggars in Kaduna exercise choice as they reject old naira notes
There was a mild drama at the popular Kano-road, Kaduna after some group of beggars, rejected old 1,000 naira notes gifted to them by a good Samaritan.
According to reports, the incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
An eyewitness narrated that a young man was accosted by three beggars on wheelchairs as he alighted from a bus, realising they were asking for handouts, the man took a N1000 note from his wallet and stretched it towards the most senior beggar among the three.
However, in a rather hilarious reaction, the beggars looked at themselves, swivelled their wheelchairs around and moved away from the young man, rejecting his offer.
Speaking to onlookers, the young man who identified himself as Caleb, said “they (beggars), came to me, asking for alms. I gave them what I had on me but they rejected it.”
The young man explained that he only had the old currency notes and have not been able to get the new ones despite his efforts.
In a related development, traders in Kwara State have refused to accept the old currency notes.
Findings revealed that scores of fish and meat sellers are the worst hit in this quagmire.
A pepper soup seller, who simply gave her name as Wunmi, told our correspondent that from Thursday, January 26th, she would not accept cash of old naira notes from her customers.
She added: “From Thursday any customer that does not have new currency can do electronic payment.”
Investigation revealed that at the Abubakar Olusola Saraki Abattoir, Akerebiata, Ilorin, on Tuesday some meat sellers were turned back because they did not have the new naira notes.
A retail meat seller, Yetunde, said she went to the abattoir on Tuesday but could not purchase meat because of her inability to present new notes.
‘I was at the abattoir on the fateful day but I did not get meat to buy. My customer did not have cows to slaughter as sellers in far north refused to accept old naira notes. Only butchers that have cows in stock are the ones selling meat to us. I have not been able to supply meat to my customers since Tuesday this week,” Yetunde added.
Same thing goes for Dupe Imam, a fish sellers. She narrated the ordeal of her colleagues in the hands of suppliers at Gbugbu Market, Edu local government area.
“Today (Wednesday) is the Gbugbu Market day. Unfortunately, many of us did not go as the sellers would not accept old naira notes.
“Many of our customers who are predominantly Nupe do not have bank accounts so without new notes they wouldn’t sell their fish to you,” she said.