LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICEOFNAIJA) – The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Gabduje, has ordered the shutdown of Wellcare, a popular supermarket in the State over rejection of old naira notes.
The closure followed the refusal of the said supermarket’s management to accept the old naira notes from customers against the directive of the State government to continue accepting the old notes.
Speaking to journalists after the closure, Baffa Agudi, chairperson of the State’s consumer protection council, said legal action will be taken against the supermarket.
He warned other marketers in Kano to be aware that the State government has not banned the use of old naira notes as legal tender and therefore, any shop owner caught going against the directive would be dealt with decisively according to the dictates of the law.
Responding to the closure, the management of the supermarket, in a letter to the governor, apologized for its action.
The letter was titled: “A plea for an immediate intervention to re-open Wellcare Alliance Limited and an apology letter.”
“Sir, Wellcare has always had an outstanding reputation in the market within the state and beyond, equally has abided by every rules and regulation which directly affects the company or a regulator without hesitation.
“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,” the letter reads.
“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 ootenotes as valid tender to when the state issues and otherwise directive.”