Kano State Supermarket Shut Down For Rejecting Old Naira

Wellcare, a well-known store, has been closed by the Kano State Government’s Consumer Protection Council after it refused to collect old Naira notes.

The supermarket was shut down shortly after Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje issued the order, according to Baffa Babba Danagundi, the acting chairman of the council, who was speaking to the press on Sunday, February 12.

Legal action will be taken against the supermarket, Danagundi claimed.

He said that WellCare Supermarket’s unwillingness to accept old naira notes from consumers in defiance of the state government’s directive led to the closure order.

The state government has not outlawed the use of old Naira notes, thus any shop caught not receiving the old notes will face harsh punishment, he cautioned other merchants in Kano.

Wellcare Alliance Limited sent a letter of regret to the government soon after the supermarket was shut down, pleading for quick action to reopen it.

The letter reads, “Due to the federal government policy on the New Naira Notes, we gave wrong instructions to our staff that from the 10th day of February 2023, only the new approved Naira Notes are to be in circulation.

“On an expansive investigation with our bankers, they declined to receive old Naira Notes on our behalf, unknown to all parties that the state has a policy that the old notes are to be in circulation.

“On this basis, we sincerely apologise for our actions and deeply regret any inconvenience this may have caused the state. We humbly plead that our business should be re-opened for deserving members of the public as we undertake to receive old notes as valid tender when the state issues an otherwise directive. Please do accept our regards and sincere apologies.”

The Kano State Government sued the federal government over the redesign of the naira on Thursday, February 9.

The Kano State Attorney General requested that the Supreme Court rule that the President of Nigeria cannot unilaterally order the Central Bank of Nigeria to recall the new N200, N500, and N500 old Bank notes without first consulting the Federal Executive Council and National Economic Council in a case with the case number SC/CS/200/2023.

The government of Kano state requested a mandatory order in an effort to overturn the federal government’s decision to remove the N200, N500, and N1,000 notes from circulation as it would negatively impact the financial position of more than 20 million of its residents.

The applicant also requested a required injunction for the Federal Government to change its stance on the redesign of the Naira due to claimed violations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution (as amended).