Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, joined other Nigerians on Wednesday in requesting a delay in the deadline for getting rid of the outdated naira notes.

The call follows the Central Bank of Nigeria’s insistence on Tuesday that the deadline will not be extended, despite petitions from the National Assembly, important stakeholders, and bank clients.

When he met with the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Governing Council in Makurdi, Ortom made the appeal.

He noted that going ahead with the January 31st deadline was tantamount to further increasing the pains of Nigerians.

He said, “The visible sign is that there are a lot of people, particularly in the rural areas to transfer the old notes. As governor, am yet to see the new naira notes.

“This is the reason I will join other Nigerians to look at this critically so that we don’t worsen the condition of our people.

“It is an understatement to say that our people are suffering in Nigeria. People are going through pain in this country things are not okay at all. Am calling on the president to look into it and extend the deadline.”