News
Naira scarcity: Long queues persist, as banks ration old notes
Bankers told Sunday PUNCH that the naira supply situation was expected to gradually improve in the days ahead as the apex bank had matched its word with action by supplying the lenders with significant volume of the previously withdrawn old naira notes.
A manager in a Tier-1 bank in Lagos told one of our correspondents on Saturday that the naira supply situation had improved tremendously compared to a month ago as the CBN had made available old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes.
He said, “The information from our head office is that the CBN gave our bank N5bn in old notes earlier this week and this has been disbursed to the branches. I can confirm to you that we have started paying each customer N20,000 over the counter and people can also withdraw the same amount from our Automated Teller Machines unlike the situation in the past when they were restricted to N10,000 on the few occasions when we had cash.
“We expect to be able to pay customers more next (this) week as we anticipate increased supply by the CBN. We have removed the N100,000 weekly withdrawal limit or N20,000 daily imposed by the apex in the wake of the naira redesign and implementation of the cashless policy and reverted to the old limits of N500,000 for individual account holders and N5m for corporate bodies.
“I am personally relieved that the CBN has now decided to obey the Supreme Court judgment and make the old notes available. The past two months were extremely difficult for us bankers as we felt the pain that our customers felt, suffered bodily harm and our facilities were attacked by frustrated customers, who could not get their money out. We are currently battling to clear the backlog of failed transactions using alternative payment channels. I think the problem arose because of the lack of capacity to handle the huge volume of such transactions.”
One of our correspondents, who visited Access Bank in the Ibafo area of Ogun State around 1.42pm on Saturday, observed a large number of customers waiting for the bank to allow them access into the banking hall and ATM gallery.
The main gate was under lock and key, while some customers were leaning on the gate.
A customer, Titilope Oyediran, said she had been at the bank since 6am with the hope of withdrawing money because she heard on radio that the banks would be working.
Oyediran said, “I have been here since 6am and the bank has yet to open. The security man just told us that money had just arrived and they would answer us but since he said that over an hour ago, nothing has happened.
“If not because I heard on radio that the banks will be open today I wouldn’t have come; but now, I will wait till they answer me.”
An official of the bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Sunday PUNCH that customers would be attended to but was not sure of the time.
“They just brought in cash and they are preparing to attend to customers. I don’t know when customers will be attended to; when we are ready, we will open the gate,” he said.
At the UBA also in Ibafo, customers were attended to in the early hours of the day but were limited to a maximum of N5,000.
This was later stopped and the customers were directed to the ATM gallery, where a long queue had been formed.
A customer, who identified himself simply as Bayonle said, “What is happening is that they first paid N5,000 to us inside the bank, but they later stopped and told us to go to the ATM gallery. I collected N5,000 over the counter, but it’s not enough. I want to use the ATM, that’s why I am waiting here.”
Banking halls across various commercial banks in the Federal Capital Territory were opened on Saturday to customers in accordance with the CBN directive although some banks refused to open for business.
The apex bank had on Friday directed commercial banks to open for operation on Saturday and Sunday as part of a coordinated effort to ease the circulation of banknotes of various denominations.
The CBN also confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks across the country.
Checks on Saturday by our correspondents revealed that while most banking halls were opened to customers, a few others were not opened for business.
However, large crowds of customers seeking to make withdrawals formed outside some of the ATM galleries of the banks.
At the Stanbic IBTC Bank in Garki Area 11, few customers were seen making withdrawals and other enquiries.
The bank’s ATMs were dispensing a maximum of N10,000 per customer or debit card, with most of the notes comprising the old N200, N500 and N1000. However, this caused a lot of frustration among customers who were hoping to withdraw larger sums.
Similarly, at the First City Monument Bank in Area 1, only a handful of customers were seen at the ATM gallery and in the banking halls.
Our correspondents also visited Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC and United Bank of Africa located along the Airport Road and Kuje Road.
At GTB, customers were allowed entry by 9am and cashiers paid N30,000 in old N1,000 per customers over the counter and N40,000 from ATMs.
The UBA branch in the Federal Housing, Lugbe, was opened to customers and dispensed cash over the counter; however, a large crowd had built up.
It was also observed that ATMs belonging to Wema Bank and UBA dispensed cash to customers.
Banks in satellite towns of the FCT also opened for business on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that huge crowds of customers were seen at banks’ ATM galleries in the satellite communities, while customers were also seen standing in queues at the gates in order to be allowed access into the banking halls.
Banks that opened for business along the Nyanya-Mararaba Road included FCMB, UBA, Zenith Bank, First Bank, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank and Access Bank, among others.
A customer at Access Bank, Mrs Ngozi Ugoh, said although she did not know about the CBN directive, she came to get cash from the ATM and saw a large crowd trying to enter the banking hall.
”I didn’t know about the directive of opening at weekends, but I was just passing by and saw people so I entered to see if I can get some cash,” she said.
Another customer at Zenith Bank, Mr Andy Jerry, described the development as a welcome one.
He said the banks were complying with the CBN directive to work during the weekend in order for the Nigeria Labour Congress to shelve its planned strike on Wednesday.
“I think the CBN compelled banks to work at weekends so that the protest by the NLC will not hold. I like this because it will give more time for people to access cash,” he said.
Hon. Obi Aguocha, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is facing mounting criticism and backlash over his video in which he is seen singing and vibing to a sexually vulgar and demeaning song against women.
In the video, which is currently making the rounds online and in Ikwuano/Umuahia WhatsApp groups, Aguocha is clearly seen singing and enjoying the Ogele cultural song, whose lyrics reduce women to objects of sexual gratification.
The footage was reportedly recorded at a public gathering that had families in attendance, including children, a detail that has intensified the backlash.
The song, performed in the Ogele cultural music tradition associated with communities in Abia State, has sparked outrage among women and women’s groups who say the lyrics are not just vulgar but deeply degrading.
“This is not culture. This is humiliation dressed in tradition,” said Mrs. Ngozi Ibe, a women’s leader in Umuahia North. “We have watched the video. The words used against women in that song are not the kind of thing any serious leader should be associated with. A lawmaker representing our constituency should be defending our dignity, not promoting content that strips women of it.”
Another woman, a trader in Umuahia South who identified herself simply as Madam Grace, said the video had caused deep anger among market women.
“We heard about it and we watched it. Many of us were shocked. You cannot claim to represent women and then be seen singing and vibing to a song where women are being insulted in the most vulgar way. We are not laughing. We are insulted,” she said.
A coalition of women’s groups in the constituency, under the aegis of the Ikwuano/Umuahia Concerned Women’s Forum, also issued a statement condemning the video.
“The lyrics go beyond ordinary expressions of affection. They employ vulgar sexual references that reduce women to objects and make our sexuality the subject of degrading entertainment. For a serving federal lawmaker to be seen actively singing and enjoying such content is a serious indictment on his judgment and his respect for the women he claims to represent,” the group said.
The women’s forum also expressed concern over the presence of children at the event.
“What message does it send to our children when a leader they look up to is seen celebrating a song that reduces women to sexual objects? This is not the kind of example we should be setting for the next generation,” the statement added.
“Ogele is our heritage. But heritage is not a licence for vulgarity. Culture should uplift, not humiliate. We call on Hon. Aguocha to explain his involvement in this video and to apologise to the women and families of Ikwuano/Umuahia,” the group said.
The controversy raises questions about the judgment expected of a public officeholder and the appropriateness of associating with content that many women and families could reasonably find offensive and humiliating.
Aguocha has not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
News
National Assembly Receives Proposals for New LGAs as Lagos Seeks 37, Akwa Ibom Missing from Lis
The National Assembly has reportedly received proposals for the creation of additional local government areas (LGAs) across Nigeria, with Lagos State seeking 37 new councils, while Akwa Ibom State is conspicuously missing from a published list of submissions.
The proposals, according to a report by The Insight Lens Project, cover various communities across the country’s six geopolitical zones and reflect demands for administrative restructuring, improved grassroots representation and better access to government services.
However, the complete list of submissions has not been independently verified, and the proposals do not constitute approval for the creation of new local government areas.
In the North-East, the reported requests include Bidoma and Michika South in Adamawa State, Boi-Tapshin in Bauchi, Banki in Borno, Cham in Gombe, Gudi in Yobe and Wukari in Taraba State.
In the North-West, the proposed areas reportedly include locations in Jigawa, Piriga in Kaduna, Dankama in Katsina, as well as Moriki and other communities in Zamfara State.
The North-Central zone also features in the reported submissions, with proposals covering Agasha and other communities in Benue State, alongside several areas in Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states.
In the South-East, the list includes Abiriba in Abia State, proposed councils around Obosi in Anambra State, several communities in Ebonyi State and numerous proposed local government areas in Imo State.
The South-West proposals reportedly include Eso-Obe and Gbonyin in Ekiti State, Ogijo and other areas in Ogun State, as well as additional proposed councils in Osun and Oyo states.
Lagos State stands out with a reported request for 37 new local government areas, although the published report did not provide the names and proposed boundaries of all the councils.
In the South-South, the reported proposals include Akassa and other communities in Bayelsa State, Ughievwen in Delta State, several areas in Edo State, and Ataba, Evo and Alesa in Rivers State.
Cross River State is also listed, with proposed councils around Mbube and Calabar. Akwa Ibom State, however, has no clearly identified entry in the published list, raising questions about whether the state submitted proposals or was omitted from the report.
Constitutional Requirements
The creation of new local government areas is governed by Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which prescribes a series of procedures involving consultations, a referendum, legislative approval and the submission of relevant records to the National Assembly.
The constitutional process must be completed before newly created councils can be recognised and reflected in the relevant constitutional schedules.
Consequently, proposals submitted by states or communities do not automatically translate into legally recognised local government areas.
The reported development comes amid broader constitutional review efforts by the National Assembly. In October 2025, the legislature reported receiving 278 requests for additional local government areas and 55 proposals for the creation of new states.
Nevertheless, the specific state-by-state submissions contained in the latest published list, including Lagos State’s reported demand for 37 additional councils and the absence of Akwa Ibom, remain subject to confirmation through official National Assembly records.
The proposals, if confirmed, could reopen discussions on administrative boundaries, grassroots governance and the constitutional procedures required for the creation of additional local government areas in Nigeria.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Mayor of Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ezennia Emelie Ibekwe, has issued a stern warning to traders and residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and blockage of drainage channels, threatening sanctions against those who fail to comply with sanitation directives.
Ibekwe, who handed down the warning during an inspection of Ajasa Market, expressed displeasure over the deteriorating environmental conditions in parts of the commercial city, describing the situation as unacceptable and detrimental to healthy living and business activities.
During the inspection, the Mayor observed that refuse and other waste materials generated from market activities were being dumped into drainage channels, obstructing the free flow of water and exposing traders, residents and their properties to flooding.
“This practice contributes to flooding whenever it rains, putting traders, residents and their properties at risk.
“An environment of this nature is not conducive to business and healthy living. It does not speak well of a commercial city that houses one of the largest markets in sub-Saharan Africa,” he stated.
Consequently, Ibekwe directed traders and other persons responsible for the blocked drainage channels to ensure their immediate clearance, giving them until the following day to comply.
He further announced that he would return to the market for another inspection to ascertain the level of compliance with the directive.
“People should be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring a clean and healthy environment. Government alone cannot handle this effectively without the active participation of residents and traders.
“I am going to come back here to see what you have done,” he warned.
The Mayor stressed that the sanitation directive was not restricted to Ajasa Market but extended to all markets within Onitsha North Local Government Area.
He consequently charged market leaders to take responsibility for enforcing environmental sanitation regulations within their respective markets, warning that the council would no longer tolerate practices capable of worsening flooding and environmental degradation.
“It is not only Ajasa Market but all the markets in Onitsha North Local Government Area. Market leaders should ensure that this directive is not compromised,” Ibekwe declared.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has commissioned a community market in Afi, Ikom II State Constituency, as part of his commitment to sustainable development and improved living conditions in rural communities.
The project, facilitated and completed by the Speaker, was identified as one of the priority needs of the community following consultations by the Constituency Needs Assessment Team established by Ayambem to evaluate infrastructure and identify projects that would directly benefit the people.
The team was mandated to identify critical infrastructure capable of improving the livelihoods of residents and promoting sustainable economic growth across the constituency.
According to community members, the absence of a suitable trading environment had been a major challenge for years, forcing traders to conduct business under harsh weather conditions, including rain and intense sunshine.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the village head, Chief Etta Ekawor, commended Ayambem for the intervention, describing the market as a miracle and a blessing that would transform the fortunes of the people.
In his remarks, Ayambem expressed appreciation to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his continued support for people-oriented projects and development initiatives across rural communities in the state.
He also thanked the people for their patience, support for his leadership and commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker was accompanied by the member representing Yala I State Constituency, Hon. Brian Odey; the Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Ndome; and the Assistant Financial Secretary of the APC in Cross River State, Hon. Akanya Agbor.
Other stakeholders from Nde Ward who attended the commissioning included the former Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Asinya Ntan, and the Community Relations Officer, Hon. Abang Neji.
Matthew Okache
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
October 22, 2026
News
Holy Ghost Transformation: How Enugu North Chairman Ibenaku Onoh Ended Years of Traffic Chaos, Roadside Trading
Driving through Holy Ghost and Chris Chemist Roundabout in Enugu metropolis was, until recently, a nightmare many motorists dreaded. Those who dared to navigate the busy commercial corridor often had unpleasant tales to tell.
Beyond the chaotic traffic situation, the area was notorious for rowdy and unorganised roadside trading, indiscriminate parking, commercial buses competing for passengers and the activities of illegal levy collectors who allegedly extorted motorists under various guises, including car radio licences and local government levies.
It was a situation that appeared to have defied successive interventions, leaving residents and motorists wondering whether sanity could ever return to one of Enugu’s busiest commercial districts.
Onoh, Executive Chairman Enugu North
Today, however, the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Hon. Ibenaku Onoh, appears to have achieved what many considered almost impossible.
Through a combination of political will, infrastructural adjustments and sustained enforcement, the once-chaotic Holy Ghost corridor has witnessed a remarkable transformation, with improved traffic flow and a significant reduction in the disorder that previously characterised the area.
Onoh explained that his decision to tackle the perennial congestion was inspired by the massive road rehabilitation, urban renewal and aesthetic improvements being undertaken across Enugu metropolis by Governor Peter Mbah.
According to him, having witnessed the governor’s determination to give Enugu a modern outlook through infrastructural development and beautification, he considered it necessary for the local government to key into the vision by sanitising Holy Ghost and its adjoining commercial areas.
He noted that it would amount to a contradiction for the state government to invest heavily in road rehabilitation and urban renewal while one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors remained overwhelmed by traffic congestion, illegal trading and environmental disorder.
Consequently, Onoh identified the Holy Ghost traffic situation as one of his administration’s immediate priorities upon assuming office.
He disclosed that he visited the area four times within his first week in office to personally assess the challenges before approaching Governor Mbah with a proposal to remove the Chris Chemist Roundabout.
“When I came on board, I paid attention to that area. In my first week of working here, I went there like four times. And I knew that was the problem. So I told the governor that the Chris Chemist Roundabout was a problem and that it had to go. The governor told me, go ahead and do whatever you want,” he recalled.
Armed with the governor’s approval, the council commenced the removal of the roundabout, expanded and asphalted portions of the road, and redesigned the median separating traffic moving into and out of Holy Ghost.
The chairman explained that the median had virtually become a market, with traders occupying every available space and contributing to the perennial congestion.
Rather than merely displacing the traders, his administration reconstructed the median in a manner that made it uncomfortable and unsuitable for roadside trading, thereby discouraging their return.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the new Holy Ghost transport terminal constructed by the Mbah administration, noting that commercial buses which previously clustered along the roads had been moved into the facility.
“The terminal has also helped. We thank the governor for that terminal. Some of these buses that used to cluster the road, we have now pushed them into the terminal,” he stated.
But beyond the physical transformation, Onoh identified sustained enforcement as the greatest challenge in restoring sanity to the area.
He explained that roadside traders and other operators frequently attempted to return to prohibited locations despite repeated efforts to remove them.
According to him, the situation required not only determination but also the establishment of a legal framework to deal with persistent offenders.
Consequently, the council approached the Chief Judge and subsequently enacted a by-law establishing a mobile court for the local government.
Onoh said the court provided a legal mechanism for prosecuting offenders, ensuring that resistance to enforcement would no longer end in mere confrontations with council officials.
He further alleged that some individuals had attempted to compromise enforcement efforts by offering monthly financial inducements, insisting that his administration would not sacrifice its objectives for personal gains.
“For me, I know exactly what I want, and once I see what I don’t want, I know I don’t want it. I think it is also that discipline, strength and consistency that have made us sustain it for as long as we have,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that enforcement remained a daily exercise, recalling how he recently directed his Chief Security Officer to remove wheelbarrows that had resurfaced around the council premises.
He maintained that without consistency, the gains recorded in Holy Ghost could easily be reversed by individuals determined to reclaim public spaces for unauthorised commercial activities.
Meanwhile, the council has shifted attention to another major environmental challenge in the area: indiscriminate waste disposal.
Onoh disclosed that his administration recently took delivery of about 35 large waste bins procured from Lagos, which would be deployed across the commercial district.
He explained that additional metal fabrication was being carried out to make the bins compatible with evacuation trucks operated by the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA).
According to him, the initiative would provide traders, residents and commuters with designated refuse disposal points before the council intensifies prosecution of environmental offenders.
“People just come and dump their waste on the road. What I have said is to give them an option. I will give you an option of where you are supposed to put waste. But when you don’t do it, by the time we take you to mobile court and have you arraigned there, you will know that you had an option,” he explained.
For motorists familiar with the old Holy Ghost, the difference is striking. What was once regarded as an unavoidable traffic nightmare is gradually becoming an example of how local government leadership can complement the urban renewal agenda of the state government.
For Onoh, however, the achievement is not merely about removing a roundabout or displacing roadside traders. It is about ensuring that the massive investments being made by Governor Mbah in transforming the Enugu capital are complemented by discipline, environmental responsibility and orderliness at the grassroots.
The challenge now is to sustain the transformation and ensure that the disorder which once defined the Holy Ghost and Chris Chemist corridor does not return.
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