Zaniab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government understand the difficulty Nigerians are experiencing in getting the redesigned naira notes, but that it is a temporary stress that would pass quickly.
Ahmed, who spoke during the 65th State House briefings organised by the Presidential Media Team on Thursday, compared Nigerians’ current position to a patient who has a wound or deep sore but must endure severe pain while receiving treatment.
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She stated that the government is glad that large amounts of old monies have been reintroduced into the banking system, giving regulatory bodies control over the nation’s currency.
A visit to the majority of Abuja’s bank Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) reveals huge lines of customers attempting to access their funds with little or no luck.
Since Tuesday, videos of disgruntled customers having difficulty accessing their money have been spreading on social media.
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But Ahmed in her response to the question on whether the government is truly worried over the development in the banking sector, stated,” Of course we are worried, we are not happy that citizens have to line and struggle to collect their cash but this is a temporary condition.
“As an illustration, this circumstance can be compared to a patient who has a sore and needs to be treated with iodine or spirit, which is usually highly painful.
” Mr President is not happy that folks are suffering but come the closing date which the Central Bank of Nigeria has given, it would not all be finished as a window still exists for people to return their old notes.
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“There is also the positive aspect to it, which is that a lot of currency has been cleaned up back into the system”.
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