It’s no longer news that the scarcity of the naira currency has assumed an alarming proportion. While looking into the plight of the business people and how much effect it has on them, one of the class of business people that have been heavily hit by this ill is the fishermen.

Fishing happens to be one of the most lucrative business in Okrika and records from the past shows that the fishermen have not been anything short of successful in their trade.

However, there is a twist in the turn of events as fishermen whines about the plight that has befallen them due to the declaration issued by the constituted authorities of the nation as regards the old currency.

In a chat with Kristina Reports at Okrika, a fish monger and single mother of five children, Helen Tamunokuro, who hails from Okrika and residing in Ibuluya Dikibo-Ama, recounted her terrible experiences ever since the naira swap debacle, lamenting that things have not been well with her and her business since the President’s declaration.

“This naira problem don affect my business well, well; I no dey sell as I bin dey sell because as I no go fit spend the old money. I no gree collect am.”

“As I dey like this, I never see people to buy my fish because no money, the people wey dey try come sef na under credit. To take the credit back sef na wahala. Na so you go waka tire, Dem go dey post post you upandan. Even wen them wan give you, na small small dem go dey give you, scatter your money, plans wey you get sef you no go fit achieve am sef.”

She also recounted how the fishermen have been cruel in their dealings lately with the mongers, stating that it is because of the economy, there’s a hike in their prices due to the cost of maintenance of their fishing equipment.

She however pleaded that the government should extend the deadline and allow the both currency to flow together until the old one automatically dies off. In her words, she told Kristina reports “make Dem give us small time so that the money go fit circulate if not we no go eat.”

Kristina Reports checks also revealed that the traders and the vendor have not only increased the price of goods, they have resolved to be accepting old naira notes on the basis that the balance of the goods bought will not be remitted.

Motorcyclists, food vendors, market women and even POS attendants now increase charges for service. Worse still, is the fact that because of the poor circulation of the new naira currency, they have resolved to be taking extra charges.

A woman who didn’t want to disclose her identity bitterly complained that this is pure wickedness, “I go one POS shop, the girl tell me say if na new note, and I wan withdraw 1k, my charge na 600 naira so I go carry 400 go house.”

The community leaders have issued an order through a town crier that the old notes should be in use freely, however, the people are not yet at ease and as such the message appears to be of none effect currently.