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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. (4665 Views)
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Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by OkwuruOKARISIA(m): 4:32am On Mar 02, 2015 |
"Biafran pound still being spent at Togo, Benin Republic border towns •. Naira sells for between N270 - N800 to Biafran £1 ***Gbenga Osinaike, just back from Togo and Ghana The currency spent in the defunct Republic of Biafra during the Nigerian civil war (1967-70), Biafran Pound, has surreptitiously crept into the currency market, serving as the legal tender in some communities along the West African coast. Investigations carried out by Sunday Punch showed that the money is being spent in the border town between Togo and Republic of Benin, while some currency hawkers also exchange it for the naira and other currencies in the border town between Ghana and Togo. One Biafran pound still bears the signature of Dr. Syvelster Ugo, the then Governor of the Central Bank of the defunct Biafran Republic and the picture of a palm tree. Its back has the coat of arms of the republic with the inscription: “peace, unity and freedom.” What is, however, baffling about the currency is that it has more value than the Nigerian naira and it is openly accepted as a legal tender in the affected communities. When Sunday Punch visited the Ghana and Togo border town, known as Aflo, some of the money vendors were eager to sell the currency. They, however, insisted on selling one Biafran pound at N800. The scenario at the Togo/Benin Republic border, known as Helakondi, was different as the vendors willingly sold one pound for between N200 and N270 to our correspondent. Some food vendors in Togo were telling passersby that they were willing to accept Biafran pounds. In Ghana, the vendors were discreet about the trade. One of them, who identified himself simply as Tony, told our correspondent that the money was not accepted as a legal tender in Ghana, but that Ghana was a transit route for the currency. He said: "We get the money from s! ome Igbo people in Nigeria. They bring it here for us and we cherish it so much. “That is why the value is higher than the Nigerian naira. This is the money that is being spent by some Igbo communities in Ivory Coast. Many of them are travellers. On their way to other parts of West Africa, they stop by and exchange the currency for the naira with them. They are the only people who buy the money from us." Tony, who said he had lived in Ghana for about 15 years, told us that some of the notes were just printed. "I think the Igbo are trying to make a statement with the money. It may surprise you that some of the people, who have the money, are not willing to sell it because they are looking forward to a time when the Biafran Republic will come to stay." While displaying some ignorance about the defunct Biafran Republic, he said: "I know they are about to create a Biafran Republic. I know it will not be long from now. We are all waiting to see the Republic." Another vendor, A Ghanaian, who identified himself as Albert Leigh, said the Biafran pound was brought by one Igbo man called Emeka. He said: "It is one Igbo man that brings the money here. Whenever he is travelling, he stops by and hands over the money to money changers. I was fortunate to be around the last time he came and also got my share. What surprises me is that many of the Igbo travellers come to ask of it. I had about 500 pounds with me. I have exchanged everything for naira. I'm now left with one pound. That is the extent the trade has gone." While disclosing that the Igbo trader brings the money from Lagos, he expressed regrets that he did not have enough to sell to this reporter. Leigh, however, refused to disclose the cost of procuring the Biafran pound. On Thursday morning when our reporter visited the Togo/Benin border, the trade in the Biafran currency was still going on.The vendors of the money were, however, agitated when o! ur correspondent made effort to inquire how they got the money. One of the vendors, who identified himself simply as Isa, a Malian, told Sunday Punch that he got the money from some Nigerians, who pass through the border. The following coversation took place between him and our reporter: How are you, sir? I’m fine. I get cefas, naira and pounds, which money you want? I want Biafran pounds. Do you have it? Yes, I get Biafran pound. It is 270 naira for one pound. You get plenty of the biafran pounds? I wan buy plenty. Sorry. I no get plenty. The man wen dey bring am never come for a long time now. Where you dey get the money? Why you dey ask? You wan to buy now? If I no wan buy, I no go come here? As I dey look you, you know be like person who wan buy. I wan buym true, true. I just wan to know the source of the money. I no know. No bi Nigerian mo! ney. I no understand you self. Why all these questions? At that point, the man became agitated and aggressive. He said: "Oya comot here! I go call police. Comot!" He pushed the reporter away and wanted to create a scene 1 Like |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by Keegan: 5:02am On Mar 02, 2015 |
I'll instead spend my N270 to buy $1 Monopoly board game currency. |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by SLIDEwaxie(m): 6:16am On Mar 02, 2015 |
Mtcheeeewwwww.... |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by AJOT99(m): 6:18am On Mar 02, 2015 |
So what are u suggesting? |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by OkwuruOKARISIA(m): 6:47am On Mar 02, 2015 |
AJOT99:am suggesting noting.....just telling u wat z happening |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by OkwuruOKARISIA(m): 6:50am On Mar 02, 2015 |
SLIDEwaxie:woriz it?.....if i cash.... ehn |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by OkwuruOKARISIA(m): 6:52am On Mar 02, 2015 |
Keegan:.....i like ur comment.....dat simply tells u dat u hv ur choice likewise others |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by Onyeaoma1(m): 2:05pm On Apr 06, 2023 |
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Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by Okoroawusa: 2:39pm On Apr 06, 2023 |
Gidgiddy come and see |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by wahahlawahala: 3:26pm On Apr 06, 2023 |
😂 |
Re: Biafran Pounds Is Still In Use And Costs More Than Naira. by ImadeUReadThis: 3:28pm On Apr 06, 2023 |
This is the kind of foolish tier lies that make waves in that yeast Uwazurike law remains sacrosanct |
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