The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000 notes from members of the public.
This is contrary to the earlier announcement that customers can only deposit old notes at the apex bank.
It, however, pegged the maximum amount the banks can collect at N500,000.
Osita Nwanisobi, director of the apex bank’s corporate communications, confirmed the development on Friday
He said “It’s just for amounts N500,000 and below.
The is coming amid the nationwide outrage over the rejection of the notes which President Muhammadu Buhari declared were no longer legal tender.
In his national broadcast on Wednesday, Buhari declared that old N500 and N1000 notes had ceased being legal tender, directing Nigerians to take the notes to the CBN and designated places.
He also ordered the CBN to recirculate old N200 notes until April 10.
But Nigerians have continued to criticise the president for disobeying the supreme court order, especially some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state among others had said old N500 and N1000 notes remain legal tender in his state until Supreme Court rules otherwise.
