Naira scarcity ruins Valentine’s celebration

Some working class wives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the inability to access naira notes which prevented them from getting the desired valentine treat from their spouses.

Some of the women, who spoke to NAN in Abuja on Wednesday, said the current cash scarcity in the country ruined their valentine outing with their spouses.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated every February 14 worldwide.

A public servant, Chelsea Ndubaku, said she lost hope when her spouse, who is also a public servant, could not get cash from any of the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

“For the past five years that we got married, on Valentine’s Day, my husband usually take me out for some treats at night.

“I do not like going to restaurants to eat the usuals. I like going to local joints to eat bush meat and local drinks.

“Yesterday, when we got to the joint, he tried to use the POS to pay when ATMs did not pay him but the network was too problematic.

“After so many trials, we decided to use the little cash we have to buy only drinks and left.

“I was so angry that I slept with the anger. He pleaded with me to understand because it was not his fault,” she said.

Another public servant, Peace Agede, said the celebration of her birthday coincided with Valentine’s Day but was disrupted due to the cash crunch.

“We usually celebrate Valentine’s Day together with my birthday.

“My hubby usually purchase gifts for me to celebrate the two events.

“This year, he simply told me that he looked for cash everywhere but could not access it.

“When I asked him if transfer was not also working, he said the one he did for someone has been pending but he has been debited.

“He told me that he won’t do any other transfer till the one he did was resolved,” Agede said.

Also speaking, a housewife, Blessing Odeje, appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks to collaborate and resolve the scarcity of naira notes.

The Star