Newspaper Headlines: Rejection of new naira notes is a crime, CBN warns Nigerians

Issues on the collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) and new naira notes dominated the cover pages of Nigerian newspapers. 

The Punch reports that the total budget deficit under President Muhammadu Buhari is set to hit N47.43 trillion. The newspaper reports that the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria has threatened to drag the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court for allegedly printing most of its electoral materials overseas.

The Nation says millions of uncollected PVCs have forced INEC to shift the deadline for collection. The newspaper reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned those rejecting the new naira notes, saying it is a crime.

The Guardian says many banks have continued to load their automated teller machines (ATMs) with old notes, despite the directive of the CBN. The newspaper reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied insinuations that he wanted a third term as president of Nigeria.

THISDAY says Buhari has again warned foreign diplomats in the country against meddling in the nation’s politics. The newspaper reports that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has said his administration will destroy the structure of criminality that had plunged Nigerians into poverty and that he will enthrone good governance if elected president.

Daily Sun reports that labour unions in Lagos have endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, and Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, for the forthcoming elections. The newspaper says the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) said the total number of registered bank verification numbers (BVNs) now stands at 56.57 million as of January 8, 2023.