Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, has ordered the arrest and punishment of anybody who sells or abuses naira notes.
This was said in a statement released by the police spokeswoman on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi.
Mr. Baba ordered the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau to place officers across the nation on high alert in order to implement the directive regarding the sale or misuse of Naira notes.
However, despite the 10-day extension, Nigerians are finding it impossible to access even the old notes around the nation.
The shortage of the new bills has exacerbated cash purchases in local marketplaces, while inadequate networks and other technical challenges have hampered online transactions.
According to a statement released by the police spokesperson on Friday, Mr. Baba’s decision is in line with the federal government’s policy and efforts to enforce the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act of 2007.
“The IGP has similarly directed all supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of Police Commands and Formations to carry out full enforcement of the provisions of Sections 20 and 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 which criminalizes, among other things, the hawking, selling or otherwise trading, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira notes, falsifying or counterfeiting of bank notes, and refusal to accept the Naira.”
“The Inspector-General of Police reiterated the mandate of the Nigeria Police Force to enforce all laws and regulations without prejudice to the enabling Acts of other security agencies and urged all and sundry to cooperate with the Nigeria Police Force as it brings the long arm of the law to bear on all violators of the provisions of the CBN Act, and other extant statutes in Nigeria, with the aim of having a well-policed society in all ramifications within the country.”
