"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

I'll instead spend my N270 to buy $1 Monopoly board game currency.

Mtcheeeewwwww....

So what are u suggesting?

AJOT99:
So what are u suggesting?

am suggesting noting.....just telling u wat z happening

SLIDEwaxie:
Mtcheeeewwwww....

woriz it?.....if i cash.... ehn

Keegan:
I'll instead spend my N270 to buy $1 Monopoly board game currency.

.....i like ur comment.....dat simply tells u dat u hv ur choice likewise others

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08109943646. I wait your response.[/font]

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😂

This is the kind of foolish tier lies that make waves in that yeast


Uwazurike law remains sacrosanct