Naira Redesign Policy reduced insecurity, prevented electoral fraud- Adesina

Former Special Assistant to the immediate past president Muhammadu Buhari on media, Mr Femi Adesina has said the idea of New Naira Re-design Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria reduced insecurity and prevented electoral fraud during the last general election.

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He stated that the policy enhanced free and fair election just as it assisted in reduction of kidnapping, stressing that despite criticisms, the policy was not bad in its entirety.

Adesina made these assertions while fielding questions from journalists in Osogbo, Osun State capital at a media chat organised by the Association of Veteran Journalists, Osun State chapter.

According to him, ”During the New Naira Re-design Policy that resulted to currency scarcity, kidnappers were out of business? For instance, APC chairman and secretary in kano state were kidnapped but when the kidnappers saw that nobody was calling them for ransom they quickly released them

Adesina posited that former Governor of Central Bank sold the idea of new Naira re- design to the then president with facts and consequently got the approval of the president.

He explained that the former president never intended to punish citizens, noting that both the rich and the poor suffered the consequences of the policy, “For instance, there was a day my cooking gas got finished, I was cooking and had no money to buy because there was cash scarcity, I had to borrow from someone to finish the cooking. The cash scarcity affected every one including those of us at the Presidential Villa as at that time“, he said.