By Olayode Inaolaji
I was gobsmacked after reading the doleful report about the fake N1,000 new naira notes given to a Point of Sale (PoS) businessman recently. This unsavoury incident happened four days after the new naira notes were launched by the incumbent president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Last month, during the launching of the new naira notes (N200, N500, and N1000) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele reportedly unveiled that the reasons behind the change of naira notes was mainly to allay corrupt practices and eschew counterfeited naira notes, but in my perspective, their acclaimed strenuous effort has been rendered effortless.
In the space of four days, the new notes were launched, Nigerians proved their misdemeanor and corrupt act by reproducing fake ones. Although recently too, the Central Bank of Nigeria has made the description and features of the new naira notes reached the general public, but how many people will still know the differences? Solving problem, to create another.
It is the high time the Federal Government took swifter action by nabbing and bringing those evil perpetrators spending counterfeited naira notes to the infamous book of history before it goes haywire or become routine action. The earlier, the better.
• Inaolaji writes from Ogbomoso, Oyo State