“Produits Fanmilk a vendre…des produits de Fanmilk a vendre. Nous acceptions Naira, Cedi, CFA, Dollars, et meme du Biafra Pound…Fanmilk products e dey for sale…fanmilk products e dey for sale….we dey accept am for Naira, Cedi, CFA, Dollar, and even Biafran Pound”, the dairy products’ vendor shouted to the hearing of everyone, in apparent attempt to get persons to patronize him. This was at Ilacondji, at the very frontiers of Benin-Togo. The vendor, a Togolese employee of the Fan Milk Company, a Nigerian international dairy firm, could speak some pidgin English and good French. He was obviously a well-travelled West African, who had probably worked in Nigeria and lived in Ghana. I needed to find out more about his Biafran Pound.

“Mon ami”, I politely called him, “avez-vous dit que vous acceptez Livre du Biafra”? (Did you say you accept Biafran currency here? “Oui”, he quipped, adding, “i lest legal ici au Togo et d’autres pays Francophones. Elle est belle et precieuse. Il est notre monnaie preferee” (It is a legal tender here in Togo and some other French-speaking countries in West Africa. It is beautiful. It is our favourite currency).

I probed further: “S’il vous plait, pius je le voir? Quelle est la valeur a Naira? (Please, let me see it. What’s its value compared to Naira?) The response dazed me: “It is currently N368 Naira to a Biafran Pound!!!” This was the most explosive part. N368 Naira to an illegal currency of a non-existent state? Who could be behind this mint and which Central Bank is regulating and standardizing it to the extent of giving it such a global value?

I took a snapshot of the money and handed it over to the Fanmilk vendor. I bought two products from him in Naira and looked around me to find out that a startled crowd was looking at me, JJC, who was just finding out for the first time that Biafran Pound was a major means of exchange in the Francophone frontiers in West Africa. The persons crossing the border like me were just wondering what drama I was putting up and soon took their eyes away from my spectacle the moment I bought my Yoghurt and allowed the poor vendor to be.

For me, it was a moment of rare discovery. I was lost in thought, perturbed, worried at the deeper implications of the seemingly interesting finding I just made. Who is behind the Biafran Pound? Which Central Bank is printing and regulating it? Why is it a legal tender outside Nigeria? Why are Francophone countries, our so-called good neighbours and co-members of ECOWAS the ones recognizing and accepting it as a means of transaction? How come it has so much value, even higher than the British Pound and other western currencies? Who and what is Biafra in the present-day Nigeria?

The journey to Aflao was characterised by mind puzzles. Could France, Nigeria’s biggest threat in West Africa be behind this pantomime? Could the Togolese government and its counterparts in Ivory Coast and other Francophone countries be boldly supporting the re-emergence of Biafra in order to break Nigeria? 


My discovery at Aflao was more worrisome. Ghana,  also recognizes and accepts the use of the Biafran Pound as a means of exchange! However, most Ghanaians and Nigerians of Igbo origin, I learnt, use the currency discretely. They are not as brazen about it as the Togolese, Beninoise and Ivorians. But the Biafran Pound is the most popular currency in Ghana. My take on the Ghana episode is that the “friendly” government of that country cannot not say it does not have any security report about a Biafran Pound-business that is said to be as old in Ghana (Aflao in particular) as immediately after the Civil War.

On return to Nigeria, I approached some senior Igbo colleagues in the academia, narrating my encounters and expressed my worries. Concerned but not new to them, they explained that it had been an old development, which has however gained momentum in more recent times. I was made to realize that the Igbos have not yet given up on “Biafra” and that there are grand plans to “regain” their independence. I gathered that the Pound had been a collectors’ item, which, ipso facto, would give it a lot of value, but explained that the tenability of the currency along the West African coastline is the machination of some powerful and unrepentant “Biafran leaders”, whose international goodwill and connections have pervaded West Africa and beyond.




http://ikoloreports..co.uk/2015/08/biafran-pound-as-legal-tender-in-west.html?m=1

Interesting....... I just hope Nigeria is restructured soon

Biafran pound is our national identity

Things are beginning to get out of hand and I fear that the Nigerian authorities do not seem to be acting with haste to give everyone a sense of belonging such that the need for secession becomes unnecessary

Things are beginning to get out of hand and I fear that the Nigerian authorities do not seem to be acting with haste to give everyone a sense of belonging such that the need for secession becomes unnecessary

OfoIgbo:
Things are beginning to get out of hand and I fear that the Nigerian authorities do not seem to be acting with haste to give everyone a sense of belonging such that the need for secession becomes unnecessary

What is your problem, why did you have to recycle old news to ur ?
Kai

EasternLion:


What is your problem, why did you have to recycle old news to ur ?
Kai

Has that article appeared on nairaland before?

I have been aware of that since early 2000s but I thought of late the currency was no longer in use.

hahahahahahahahahaha

hehehehehehehe

huhuhuhuhuhuhuh



And some people will swallow this hook line and sinker and still come back to say they are Israelite, Jews and the wisest in the world [size=14pt] LWKMD [/size]

Nigeria36:
I have been aware of that since early 2000s but I thought of late the currency was no longer in use.

Same here. I've been aware of the Biafran currency since the early 2000s spearheaded by MASSOB and accepted as legal tender is some cities of the southeast, but I received this article today on my email inbox which leads me to believe that this is a new development, and may be or may be not championed by MASSOB, with standardized exchange rate between it and naira

EasternLion:


What is your problem, why did you have to recycle old news to ur ?
Kai

IGbos will not get biafra in the manner which it's going; just few eastern states?? Or you think calabar, rivers, bayelsa and Niger deltans will join you guys in your personal struggle /interests.

EasternLion:


What is your problem, why did you have to recycle old news to ur ?
Kai

Though it has appeared before, it think this is a new development. I know for sure that the Biafran livre/lira/pound is still legal tender in some francophones and for the exchange rate to be variable means its very much in use.
The last article about it said the exchange was about NGN800 to a livre..now its about NGN368 to a livre.
In Afrika excluding the northern parts of it,majority of Nigerians living in other parts of Afrika are Igbos.
And like the vendor said..its beautiful and simple to the eye,which makes it preferable to the naira

OfoIgbo:


Has that article appeared on nairaland before?

Are you not that Nri guy
Pls I'd love to know everything you know about Nri and its relationship with the surrounding ethnicities like Bini, Igala and of course Igbo.
Add me up with my pin

Everybody should support biafrans to have their biafra, so we can have peace in Nigeria. Their pounds have been trading in the francophone countries. ..I support odua republic

DaBullIT:
hahahahahahahahahaha

hehehehehehehe

huhuhuhuhuhuhuh



And some people will swallow this hook line and sinker and still come back to say they are Israelite, Jews and the wisest in the world [size=14pt] LWKMD [/size]

simple Google search would have could have saved u from unnecessary arguement. meanwhile ur view of igbos are as goog as nothing cos u are not a determinant of biafra course.

Igbo may suffer regret if they decide to take this wrong decision, they should not forget that the theory of citizenship will definitely apply to their point of entry when coming to Lagos. Those emeka and Ngozi that are forming lagosian should be preparing for nigeria visa. Arrant nonsense!

betty202020:
simple Google search would have could have saved u from unnecessary arguement. meanwhile ur view of igbos are as goog as nothing cos u are not a determinant of biafra course.

It haf pepper you abi ? I didn't say anything now , but now that you have touched the devil's breast , let me enlighten you

You did not search google yourself did you ? If you did , you would realize that Biafra pound is not a legal tender

For money to be a legal tender , the country must exist

According to history , Biafra was recognized by Gabon, Haiti, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania , not any developed nation even if they gave support codedly


Now , what determines exchange rate / value of a currency , Simple answer is demand and supply , Trades and exports , what the country is offering the world e.t.c.e.t.c , So realistically speaking , Biafran Pound is a piece of paper , it has no value , Reasons are simple

There's no Biafra, There's no economy , There's no export or import


The only reason why anyone may want to buy Biafran pound is if the person is a collector , and when he buys it , he will just laminate it

Unfortunately there's so much if that useless paper in circulation, no collector will pay top dollar to buy any biafran pound

SO THE STORY IS FAKE , BUT THE GULLIBLE ONES WILL FALL FOR THIS PROPAGANDA , THE SAME METHOD OJUKWU EMPLOYED AND FAILED

Where can I get Biafra notes? That's one money I'll br proud to hold onto

luckylucky:
Igbo may suffer regret if they decide to take this wrong decision, they should not forget that the theory of citizenship will definitely apply to their point of entry when coming to Lagos. Those emeka and Ngozi that are forming lagosian should be preparing for nigeria visa. Arrant nonsense!

hehehehehehehe...yeye.

Nothing like dt on google bro.

How will something be a legal tender when it is useless and not even on any part of the world's currency?

Lol...which bank wan collect waste?

Ya kpotuwa

onenaira3:
Where can I get Biafra notes? That's one money I'll br proud to hold onto

dude, u sabi use corel draw?

Just draw anything, slap the name, put any denomination, call it Biafra pound or dollar. Whatever!

Take it to the bank and reveal your stupid.ity.

SLIDEwaxie:
dude, u sabi use corel draw?

Just draw anything, slap the name, put any denomination, call it Biafra pound or dollar. Whatever!

Exactly!

I'll ask my little niece to mint me 10Billion of Biafran pounds using her crayon.

DaBullIT:
hahahahahahahahahaha

hehehehehehehe

huhuhuhuhuhuhuh



And some people will swallow this hook line and sinker and still come back to say they are Israelite, Jews and the wisest in the world [size=14pt] LWKMD [/size]

LOL, the day they burn all the Naira with them for their Biafra currency is when they'll be taken seriously
- LOL; Igbo and money! that's the day many would commit suicide.

Breaking News: My Shite is now legal in my toilet

luckylucky:
Igbo may suffer regret if they decide to take this wrong decision, they should not forget that the theory of citizenship will definitely apply to their point of entry when coming to Lagos. Those emeka and Ngozi that are forming lagosian should be preparing for nigeria visa. Arrant nonsense!

Won't you be happy they apply for visa, just we apply for visa while going to Benin republic and ghana ..
Are you against odua republic? Are you a coward?

Seriously?

luckylucky:
Igbo may suffer regret if they decide to take this wrong decision, they should not forget that the theory of citizenship will definitely apply to their point of entry when coming to Lagos. Those emeka and Ngozi that are forming lagosian should be preparing for nigeria visa. Arrant nonsense!

do you think lagos belongs to yoloba.
Awori pple will not follow yoloba in odua republic.

Armaggedon:
do you think lagos belongs to yoloba.
Awori pple will not follow yoloba in odua republic.

That's what I keep telling them...awori,ogu and ijebu are not yoloba. though they'd keep deluding themselves that those coastals are part of the Ofei' national fabrik!

DaBullIT:


[s]It haf pepper you abi ? I didn't say anything now , but now that you have touched the devil's breast , let me enlighten you

You did not search google yourself did you ? If you did , you would realize that Biafra pound is not a legal tender

For money to be a legal tender , the country must exist

According to history , Biafra was recognized by Gabon, Haiti, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania , not any developed nation even if they gave support codedly


Now , what determines exchange rate / value of a currency , Simple answer is demand and supply , Trades and exports , what the country is offering the world e.t.c.e.t.c , So realistically speaking , Biafran Pound is a piece of paper , it has no value , Reasons are simple

There's no Biafra, There's no economy , There's no export or import


The only reason why anyone may want to buy Biafran pound is if the person is a collector , and when he buys it , he will just laminate it

Unfortunately there's so much if that useless paper in circulation, no collector will pay top dollar to buy any biafran pound

SO THE STORY IS FAKE , BUT THE GULLIBLE ONES WILL FALL FOR THIS PROPAGANDA , THE SAME METHOD OJUKWU EMPLOYED AND FAILED
[/s]

e dey this guy, sotey him wan cry. BIAFRAN POUND( which sell at N365) IS CURRENTLY IN USE IN WEST AFRICA AND YOU KNOW IT. THE OP STORYY WAS WRITTEN BY SHERIFF FOLARIN ON NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPER( A YORUBA NEWSPAPER) SO WHERE IS THE PROPAGANDA?.
BURY YOURSELF IF YOU ARE ANGRY

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/biafran-pound-as-a-legal-tender-in-west-africa/

SLIDEWAXIE YOU CAN JOIN HIM IN HIS GRAVE.


IN THIS BELOW AMERICAN WEBSITE, A COLLECTOR SELLS A BIAFRAN POUND FOR 14 US DOLLAR >>>>> https://www.katespapermoney.co.uk/category.asp?ID=46

HATERS ARE ALLOWED TO SWALLOW CYANIDE

HAHAHA! HATERS WANT TO DIE. IS SHERIFF FOLARIN AN IGBO MAN?

Very Stewpyd , Sheriff Afolarin may have written the piece, he may also have copied it from somewhere . if you fail to see that , then that's your problem, also the piece in the link is the same as the one on nairaland, besides , i maintain my stance that Biafran Pound is not a legal tender and it is not recognized anywhere

and for your pride about Biafra pounds being sold at 14$ a bunch , you no try at all he he he he

ArodewilliamsT:


e dey this guy, sotey him wan cry. BIAFRAN POUND( which sell at N365) IS CURRENTLY IN USE IN WEST AFRICA AND YOU KNOW IT. THE OP STORYY WAS WRITTEN BY SHERIFF FOLARIN ON NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPER( A YORUBA NEWSPAPER) SO WHERE IS THE PROPAGANDA?.
BURY YOURSELF IF YOU ARE ANGRY

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/biafran-pound-as-a-legal-tender-in-west-africa/

SLIDEWAXIE YOU CAN JOIN HIM IN HIS GRAVE.


IN THIS BELOW AMERICAN WEBSITE, A COLLECTOR SELLS A BIAFRAN POUND FOR 14 US DOLLAR >>>>> https://www.katespapermoney.co.uk/category.asp?ID=46

HATERS ARE ALLOWED TO SWALLOW CYANIDE LIKE